Honda Walking Assist Device Finally Goes Into Broad Hospital Trial

It’s been 5 years now since we first saw Honda’s Walking Assist Device and now it will finally be used on a broader scale. The first 100 units are being sent out to 50 different hospitals across Japan as a part of a loan program. The device weighs 2.6kg and straps onto the legs and hips helping the wearer walk with a longer, steadier stride.  The Device has a bevy of sensors which are used to track hip-angles, and thus make sure the motors kick in as appropriate to help guide each step. Each unit can run for more than an hour on a single charge with the 22.2V Li-Ion battery fitting into the control pack on the back of the device.
Honda suggests the gadget can be useful for both indoor and outdoor walking, though it cautions against using the walker in the rain and on non-flat surfaces. So far, it’s been trialed on a small scale in seven different hospitals, where physiotherapists and doctors have apparently given the system a tentative thumbs-up.
Source: Slash Gear