South Korean Researchers Make 'Ironman' Robot For Paralyzed Patients
JAKARTA Cybathlon, a competition to create international-scale robotics technology for people with disabilities, was held last October in Switzerland. There are many researchers present, one of which is from the KAIST science institution.
This leading South Korean university often participated in the robotics event, even winning several times. This time, the research team from KAIST brought home the award thanks to the 'Ironman' robot for paralyzed sufferers.
The robot was developed by a joint research team from KAIST EXO-Lab, Move Lab, and Angel Robotics under the name WalkON Suit F1. A total of 71 teams from 26 countries participated in the Cybathlon event and fought the robot developed by the research team from KAIST.
Basically, Cybathlon is a sporting event that utilizes technology and athletes with disabilities will try it directly. There are eight sports that are competed and Exoskeleton Race is the highlight of the event.
In this competition, athletes with paraplegia or paralysis will depend entirely on the technology they use to run. This is a very difficult challenge because the athlete's victory is influenced by the reliability of technology.
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The research team from KAIST took first place, even the technology managed to attract the jury after carrying out all the tasks within 6 minutes and 41 seconds. This task includes moving between narrow chairs, moving boxes, and others.
"I am very touched because I was able to introduce the best useable robotic technology in the world from Korea with my own body," said Paraplegia Athlete Kim Seunghwan.
On the other hand, KAIST Team Captain Park Jeongsu revealed that this victory was achieved thanks to his team who could focus on developing the best technology. All researchers try to fight against their own boundaries in developing the WalkON Suit F1.
"We are participating in this competition by considering it a competition against ourselves and focusing on showing the technological gap. Now, we are very happy and proud that our efforts have also achieved good results," Park said.