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TECHFIND - ROBOTICS
Motorized Knee
Researchers from a Japanese university have designed and are developing a motorized knee device intended to improve the efficiency of a runner. The device supports the flexure of a knee to enable a runner to use 30% less muscle power compared to being unassisted. The device consists of a small motor that helps to flex the knee, a safety lever, and a sensor that detects the degree of flex. The entire system is connected to the user's knee. The control unit and battery are in a backpack that must be carried by the user. The entire device weighs approximately 5 kg. While in testing, the device showed small improvement in running speed (approximately 4.5 mph), but it did allow the user to run for a longer time period than individuals not using of the motorized knee. The researchers expect to commercialize the motorized knee kit within the next three years after making it smaller and lighter.
Media Spiders®
Researchers from a Japanese university have designed and are developing a motorized knee device intended to improve the efficiency of a runner. The device supports the flexure of a knee to enable a runner to use 30% less muscle power compared to being unassisted. The device consists of a small motor that helps to flex the knee, a safety lever, and a sensor that detects the degree of flex. The entire system is connected to the user's knee. The control unit and battery are in a backpack that must be carried by the user. The entire device weighs approximately 5 kg. While in testing, the device showed small improvement in running speed (approximately 4.5 mph), but it did allow the user to run for a longer time period than individuals not using of the motorized knee. The researchers expect to commercialize the motorized knee kit within the next three years after making it smaller and lighter. 
