(Thank you SmartKeitai)
It's not the fear of zombies or robots that keep me up at night, its the thought of people equipped with artificial muscle suit exoskeletons chasing me, just like the ones being developed by the Kobayashi Lab and the Tokyo University of Science.
The suit was demonstrated at this year CEATEC convention in Japan. The apparatus weighs a bit under 20 lb and straps around the user’s upper body with supports under their arms than include shoulder and elbow joints. Pneumatic artificial muscles are located in compartments on the back of the unit and inflates on command when the wearer needs help carrying something or exerting a force with their arms.
The pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs or McKibben muscles) are made of inelastic PET material and their inflation using electrical components made by the KOA Corporation. When this bladder-like structure is filled, it contracts to simulate a human muscle. The lab uses 5 different sizes or PAMs ranging from a diameter from 0.25 inches to 1.5 inches and they exert forces that range from 60 N to 1,800 N respectively. In a demonstration done at CEATEC, we can see how a contracted PAM can easily lift a 22 lb (10 kg) weight. Kanda Tsuchin manufactured these muscles.
The project is not intended to give individuals superhuman strength rather simply support humans in heavy lifting applications. Rentable muscle suits will be available next year. This project has been worked on since 2001 with a focus on aiding upper body muscles but it still has a long way to go before we see an entire cyborg suit. Phew!
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