1. Chad Fair

2.  Cyborg-type robot that can support, expand or improve physical capability.  Capable of allowing the operator to lift and carry about five times as much weight as he or she could lift and carry unaided  Two Versions  HAL 3 – Legs only  HAL 5 – Full body suit

3.  Researched started by Dr. Sankai, a professor at Tsukuba University in Japan.  HAL was created for rehabilitation patients and physical training support in medical field.  Can also be used for heavy labor, and possible rescue support at disaster sites,  Possibly in the entertainment field in the future.  Not intended for Military Use

4.  Voluntary control system  When a person attempts to move, nerve signals are sent from the brain to the muscles from the motoneurons and very weak biosignals can be detected on the surface of the skin.  HAL catches these signals through a sensor attached on the skin of the user.  Based on the signals obtained, the power unit is controlled to move the suit in unison with the user's muscle movement.

5.  Robotic autonomous control system  provides human-like movement based on a robotic system which works together with the autonomous control system  HAL is the world's first cyborg-type robot controlled by a hybrid system  voluntary control system mixed with a robotic autonomous control system

6.  Very Successful  By October 2012, over 300 HAL suits were in use by 130 medical facilities in Japan  In late February 2013, HAL received a global safety certificate, becoming the first powered exoskeleton to do so  In November 2011, HAL was selected to be used for cleanup work at the site of the Fukushima nuclear accident.  Increases patients stride length and walking speed significantly

7.  Only available in Japan at the moment  Expensive to the public  $14,000-19,000 for one suit  Decreases physiological cost Index after a patient uses HAL  Very Short Battery Life  Needs to be continuously charged

8.  Suit with…  Longer Battery Life  Less weight  Less expensive to public  Give more support to the user  Therapeutic games using the HAL that can stimulate cognitive activities and help disabled patients walk while playing.  Cyberdyne plans on modifying suits specifically for disaster recovery like the Fukushima nuclear accident

9.  Wikipedia: HAL (Robot).  Efficiency of HAL.  Robotic Suit HAL  New HAL Exoskeleton  HAL-5: The Exoskeleton Robot