Amazing exoskeleton BOOT enables the wearer to walk 9% faster with 17% less effort

It could be used by people who have mobility issues or physical demanding jobs An exoskeleton boot that enables the wearer to walk 9 per cent faster than with normal shoes, and with 17 per cent less effort, has been revealed by scientists. Created at Stanford, the robotic footwear comes with a motor that works with calf muscles to give the wearer an extra push with every step The exoskeleton 'boot' can adapt to the user to help people walk faster and more efficiently in real-world conditions. b, The exoskeleton consists of a battery pack worn on the waist, a motor, drum and rope transmission to produce assistive torques, electronics to receive sensor data, command the motor and perform optimization, a carbon fibre and aluminium frame to transmit forces, and a shoe and a calf strap to transfer forces to the body The energy savings and speed boost were equivalent to taking off a 9.2 kg backpack, the researchers said. Exoskeletons that assist leg movement, by increasing walking speed and reducing the energy required, can be helpful for people with mobility impairments or with physically demanding jobs Carlos Rodriguez-Guerrero, a mechanics researcher at KU Leuven in Belgium, who was not involved with the study, called it an 'innovative approach' The boost in simplicity that Slade and colleagues’ method offers is an inspiring step forwards in the field of wearable robotics,' he said in an accompany News & Views piece in the new issue of Nature.