Carrying the weight forward: the magical function of exoskeleton equipment

A normal adult has 206 bones in his body, and our every move depends largely on these delicately structured, smoothly functioning bones. However, our bones are hidden deep in the hair, skin, and muscles. They are invisible to the human eye, supported by the nervous system and muscle tissue, and strongly support our bodies, allowing us to bend and stretch, and stand tall.

A mechanical exoskeleton, or powered exoskeleton, is a mechanical device made of a steel frame that people can wear. This equipment can provide additional energy for limb movement. With this "suit", humans can become so-called "iron men".

Exoskeleton, as the name suggests, does it mean that the bones grow outside the body? It is true. The skeletons of furry creatures like humans can be called endoskeleton. However, many students have seen creatures with exoskeletons.

What kinds of organisms have exoskeletons? In their natural state, exoskeletal organisms include insects (such as beetles and cockroaches) and crustaceans (such as shrimp and crabs) with hard shells or "skins". The hard body wall covering the surface of exoskeleton organisms is composed of three parts: the epidermal cell layer, the basement membrane, and the stratum corneum. The epidermal cell layer is composed of a layer of living cells, which secretes a thin film called the basement membrane inward and a thick stratum corneum outward. In addition to preventing the evaporation of water in the body and protecting the internal structure, the stratum corneum can also work with the muscles attached to the inner wall to complete various movements. It has a similar function to the bones in vertebrates, so it is called an exoskeleton. The exoskeleton of crustaceans also contains a lot of calcium, but insects have almost no calcium.

All creatures in nature have evolved over a long period of time. What is the difference between these exoskeletons, which are very different from the endoskeleton represented by humans? The key difference between endoskeleton and exoskeleton is protection. The exoskeleton of insects and crabs is an organ that acts as armor, and it also provides a framework or structure for the organism. In a way, the knight's full metal armor can be called an exoskeleton because it provides a hard shell or skin to protect the knight in battle. Space suits and deep-sea diving outer wear equipment are also considered exoskeletons because they help the human body work normally under extremely harsh external conditions. Humans are very good at learning, imitating and innovating. What have we learned from exoskeletons? With this as a reference, what have scientists come up with? The answer will surprise you! Scientists have expanded the research and application of exoskeletons more broadly. Exoskeletons are more often associated with "super equipment", or systems used to expand and enhance a person's physiological functions. They can help people lift or carry heavier loads, run faster, and jump higher.

For example, in the military, exoskeletons will help soldiers fight better because they can be better protected, carry more weapons and equipment, and have stronger physical fitness than normal people. China's single-soldier exoskeleton system has been successfully developed, and auxiliary devices can be added as needed. The rated load average flat ground speed of the equipment is 4.5 kilometers per hour, and the flat ground walking range is 20 kilometers. The new exoskeleton system has reached the stage of equipping troops and can perform tasks such as plateau single-soldier patrols, mountain single-soldier patrols, and crossing obstacles. At the end of 2020, my country's border defense forces found in actual use in the Ali region of Tibet at an altitude of 5,000 meters that single-soldier exoskeleton equipment can significantly increase the load-bearing capacity of single-soldier troops in plateau troops and enhance the single-soldier reconnaissance capabilities.

Exoskeleton experimental research (Photo source: Visual China)

In terms of medical rehabilitation, exoskeletons are usually made of materials such as metal or carbon fiber. They can be worn on the body like clothes, which can enhance human mobility and reduce weight. They can help people with diseases such as multiple sclerosis and severe arthritis overcome mobility difficulties. Exoskeletons are particularly important for some disabled elderly people. With their help, disabled people and the elderly can move freely in daily life, such as walking, climbing stairs, and carrying weights.

The exoskeleton's powerful functions and broad application prospects have attracted the interest of scientists around the world. Countries have organized a large number of scientific and technological elites to accelerate research and development, and wearable exoskeleton equipment and exoskeleton robots that can run and jump have come into our view.

As the research and development of exoskeleton equipment progresses, they will surely become more and more perfect. One day, when you see an old man wearing these exoskeleton equipment and happily practicing Tai Chi in the park, when you see an exoskeleton robot holding your express delivery and running towards you at full speed, don't be surprised, because this is the power of science and technology, and it is also the embodiment of the purpose of science and technology to benefit mankind.

What technologies are used in exoskeleton equipment?

Exoskeleton equipment includes force sensors, perception and judgment devices, control devices, transmission actuators and drive devices, which can help the wearer walk, go up and down slopes or crawl under high load conditions. The driving technologies of exoskeleton equipment include hydraulic drive, pneumatic drive and electric motor drive. The integration of these technologies ensures that the exoskeleton can "move", and efficient energy and energy management technologies make the exoskeleton system more powerful. Some of the latest exoskeleton equipment also have sensors that can collect real-time data such as the user's pulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate, and are loaded with information coupling, mobile computing and other technologies.