HAL
HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) is a powered wearable exoskeleton suit developed by Cyberdyne Inc. of Japan, first prototyped in 1997 and completed as the full-body HAL-5 in 2012. It uses electromyogram (EMG) sensors to detect bio-electrical signals from the wearer's muscles and amplify or support movement in real time, enabling persons with mobility impairments to walk and regain motor function. HAL received FDA clearance in 2017 and is the world's first powered exoskeleton to receive a global safety certificate; it is available in Japan for institutional rental at approximately $2,000/month.
Primary use case: Healthcare
Weight
15 kg
Specifications
Physical
Weight
15 kg
Locomotion
stationary
Commercial
Availability
Available
Primary Use Case
Healthcare
Related news
Swiss startup Embodied AI launches AIR, a humanoid robot that learns from factory workers
Agility is public: the short list of humanoid robot stocks, and who's next
Toyota Robotics: Toyota just established a dedicated robotics division
The China humanoid shakeout begins: 150 companies at risk
XPeng open-sourced GroundingPI , a robot perception model that beats GPT-6 Astra
Chinese Robot Startup Releases Half-ton Mech Suit, Politely Asks People Not to Weaponize It - ZME Science
A Chinese robot startup has released a half-ton mech suit, marking an entry into the large humanoid robot market. The company has made a public appeal asking people not to weaponize their technology, reflecting concerns about the potential military applications of such platforms.
Engineers share development story behind Beijing humanoid half-marathon champion model
Beijing engineers reveal development details of their humanoid robot that won the city's half-marathon. The robot represents advancements in bipedal locomotion and endurance for humanoid systems. No specific company name, funding details, or technical specifications were provided in the article excerpt.
Human-machine teaming dives underwater
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is developing hardware and algorithms for underwater human-robot teaming to enable effective collaboration between divers and autonomous underwater vehicles for maritime missions including infrastructure inspection, search and rescue, and countermine operations. The project focuses on two key capabilities—navigation algorithms and AI-powered perception systems that can process optical and sonar data while soliciting human input for uncertain classifications. The team has tested their sensor-equipped AUV with real divers in various conditions, including at Michigan Technological University's Great Lakes Research Center.