![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() by Ed Adamczyk Washington DC (UPI) May 19, 2021
An exoskeleton, worn by U.S. Air Force aerial porters to assist in lifting objects with reduced strain, will make its debut at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., the branch announced on Wednesday. The device, designed by Arizona State University and the Air Force Life Cycle Management and Air Mobility Command, will be used in an official capacity for the first time this week. The Aerial Port Exoskeleton, still in its prototype phase of development, is an element of the uniform worn by those in the classification of aerial port, which involves lifting of materials and moving materials on and off aircraft. If successful, it will be utilized throughout the Air Force, officials said in a press release. The device is essentially a harness with assistive lifting properties, made of metal and composite components, and is meant to reduce strain and injuries while increasing productivity. Researchers at Arizona State University's IDEAlab explain the device as "a wearable hybrid robotic system that assists, enhances, and augments a person in their daily activities around the home and in the workplace." The project is the product of a 2019 investigation known as the Volpe study. "The Volpe study was a Department of Transportation study that focused on why retired aerial porters alone were costing upwards of $31 million a year on disability benefits," Tech. Sgt. Landon Jensen, of the Air Mobility Command, said in the Air Force press release. Airmen who tested the exoskeleton for a month said load bearing is significantly reduced. "This suit's core function is to help us lift, but can also be used in other ways," said Airman 1st Class Kyle Sunderman, 60th Aerial Post Squadron ramp serviceman. "During a load, fatigue can be a real issue and these exoskeletons really take a lot of the strain away," Sunderman said.
![]() ![]() Helping robots collaborate to get the job done Boston MA (SPX) May 17, 2021 Sometimes, one robot isn't enough. Consider a search-and-rescue mission to find a hiker lost in the woods. Rescuers might want to deploy a squad of wheeled robots to roam the forest, perhaps with the aid of drones scouring the scene from above. The benefits of a robot team are clear. But orchestrating that team is no simple matter. How to ensure the robots aren't duplicating each other's efforts or wasting energy on a convoluted search trajectory? MIT researchers have designed an algorithm to ensu ... read more
![]() |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |