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Paralyzed man walks using robotic suit

Robotic Suit - Level 0

A man paralyzed below the shoulders could not walk. He wore a robot suit and that helped him to walk. Doctors put the robot suit on him. It covered his arms and legs. He controlled it by using sensors near his brain. His thoughts were able to move the machine. The machine moved his arms and legs so he could walk.

Doctors say this technology will help disabled people. The brain will control wearable technology. A doctor said the robot suit is the first brain-controlled system that can move arms and legs. The man was very happy with the test. He said: "I can't go home tomorrow in my exoskeleton, but I've got to a point where I can walk."

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Robotic Suit - Level 1

A 28-year-old man, paralyzed below the shoulders, walked using a robot suit. He could not move his arms, hips and legs. Doctors put a robot exoskeleton on him. It covered his arms, legs and body. It was attached to the ceiling so the man would not fall over. He controlled it by using sensors that were put near his brain. The man's thoughts were able to move the machine. The machine moved his arms and legs so he could walk.

Doctors say this technology will help disabled people in the future. Brain signals will control wearable technology. A doctor leading the exoskeleton trial said it was the first brain-controlled system to be designed that could move arms and legs. The man was very happy with the test. He said: "I can't go home tomorrow in my exoskeleton, but I've got to a point where I can walk. I walk when I want and I stop when I want."

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Robotic Suit - Level 2

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A 28-year-old man who is paralyzed below his shoulders walked using a robot suit. The man could not move his arms, hips and legs. Doctors put a special robotic exoskeleton on him. This machine covered his arms, legs and body. It was also attached to the ceiling so the man would not fall over. He controlled the machine using sensors that were put near his brain. The man used his thoughts to tell the sensors to move the machine. The machine moved his arms and legs. He was able to walk a few steps using the machine even though he was paralyzed.

Doctors are in the early stages of developing this technology. They think exoskeletons will help disabled people in the future. Technology will pick up signals from the brain to control wearable technology. A surgeon who co-led the exoskeleton trial commented on the robotic suit. He said it was the first brain-controlled system to be designed that can move all four limbs. The man was very happy with the test. He said: "I can't go home tomorrow in my exoskeleton, but I've got to a point where I can walk. I walk when I want and I stop when I want."

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Robotic Suit - Level 3

A man who is paralyzed from below his shoulders has been able to walk using a robotic suit. The 28-year-old man could not move his arms, hips and legs after an accident. Doctors fitted him with a special robotic exoskeleton - this is a machine that covered his arms, legs and body. The machine was attached to the ceiling so the man could keep his balance and not fall over. He controlled the machine using high-tech sensors that were implanted near his brain. The man used his thoughts to tell the sensors to move the machine. His brain sent messages to the machine and it moved his arms and legs. He was able to walk a few steps using the machine even though he was paralyzed.

Doctors say they are in the early stages of developing this technology. They believe robotic exoskeletons will help disabled people to live better lives in the future. Technology will be able to pick up signals from the brain to control wearable robotic technology. The next stage is to remove the ceiling harness. A neurosurgeon who co-led the exoskeleton trial commented on the exoskeleton suit. He said it was the first wireless, brain-controlled system to be designed that can move all four limbs. The man was very happy with the test. He said: "I can't go home tomorrow in my exoskeleton, but I've got to a point where I can walk. I walk when I want and I stop when I want."

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