New Robotic Exoskeleton is controlled by Human Thoughts.

In this era, many new sophisticated technologies are being developed by researchers in order to help people in problem solving. One of them is the exoskeleton, connecting between human’s brain and machine. It has advantages and disadvantages as well. I argue that the exoskeleton benefits for people, and help them when they cannot walk.

Nowadays, researches from several countries such as Germany, Korea and Japan have been developing the new robotic exoskeleton. It has two parts which is as an important role to control itself. The first is the exoskeleton is robotic devise that fits around the human’s hips and legs. The second is a dark cap on the human’s head or human’s body, covered with electrodes that facilitate the connection between human’s brain and machine. 

This robotic exoskeleton machine has disadvantages in medial field that each patient would require, the specificity. The price will be expensive for people who want to meet the unique needs in creating a custom exoskeleton. Moreover, the machine provides over support for patient where they have muscular atrophy or tissue damage. If the patient uses this tool too much, they will never be required to use the damaged tissue and therefore would not help to rehabilitate it. On the other hand it will be totally useless if it does not provide enough assistance. As a result, it is hard to create exoskeletons appropriate for unique patients.

However, the exoskeleton will be essential for rehabilitation to help people when they cannot walk. To illustrate, people with neurodegenerative diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and patient with spinal cord injuries can walk when they use the exoskeleton robotic. They use this machine by controlling with their mind without brain surgery. In the exoskeleton study, researchers use the electroencephalograms (EEGs) which are the method of recording electrical activities by placing conductive material on the scalp, and use a small controller that light up different pattern. Hence, the exoskeleton can do the commands to stand up, sit down, walk forward, turn left and turn right. 

To sum up, I believe that the exoskeleton gives advantages for unique patients, and could be used by people in the future. 

source : http://www.livescience.com/51940-mind-controlled-exoskeleton-robot.html

http://sites.google.com/a/cortland.edu/exoskeletons/home/disadvantages