Exoskeleton from scrap materials

Do you think you need to have millions of money to create an exoskeleton or to be a hefty industrial corporation? Not necessarily, all you need is a bundle of not the rarest parts, a couple of simple machines and a smart head with straight arms to put it together.

The handy guy from Canada, James “Hacksmith” Hobson, built an exoskeleton over the summer, allowing him to lift a 78-pound load without much effort. The figure is not impressive, but because exoskeleton pneumatic cylinders operate at half pressure, its load-carrying capacity can be doubled by putting a more powerful compressor.


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So far this structure lacks support for the legs, but even such an outcome for a project like “how I spent the summer” is impressive. Unfortunately, the author of this ubergadget keeps only a video blog of creation and I did not find any detailed text describing the technical details. From the video it is clear that:

1. The drives are pneumatic cylinders powered by a compressor. On the cylinder for flexion and extension.
2. Bearing frame assembled by analogy with the frames for travel backpacks, but welded from steel for reliability.
3. The shoulders and forearms are assembled from their square profile and are connected to the frame through a pair of ball joints.
4. No feedback is yet provided; the system is controlled by a remote control in one of the hands.



Summarizing, I can say that the system is clearly no more complicated than a warehouse lift, but the appearance is impressive. Here would be strain gauges with feedback for control, a frame for legs and cylinders for opening arms - and Matt Damon would envy.

All videos of the author with a detailed build history here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbncXbXlaNQccS1MMH2BJVyVWYQ6kGxZw

UPD. Replaced gifs on video at the request of readers.