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Robot tail developed to balance out human body and stop people from falling over
The strap-on appendage, known as Arque, has been developed by researchers at Keio University in Japan.
[...] The tail can be be adjusted to fit whoever is wearing it by adding or removing modular "vertebrae", the Fast Company reports .
Small weights can also be inserted inside each vertebrae to help offset the wearer's weight.
[...] Artificial muscles inside the robotic tail control its movement by contracting and expanding using an external pressurised air system that resembles a lawn mower or giant vacuum.
Because the prototype tail has to remain tethered to this system, the wearer is not able to move very far using it.
[...] The tail was presented last week at the 2019 SIGGRAPH conference in Los Angeles , which focuses on graphics, gaming, and emerging technology.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday August 07 2019, @02:32PM (2 children)
They mentioned elderly people. Maybe they're right. "Help me, I've fallen and can't get up!" I suppose some people with nerve conditions might be steadied by a tail. They also mention workers carrying loads. I'd have to experience it, before I could pass judgement on load carrying ability. Then, there is the frivolity factor. The video linked to by hemocyanin gives an idea how women might use that tail to attract attention. Ehhh - if it serves a medical purpose, it's cool. If it helps me to get a little tail from a hot chick, it's cool. Otherwise - not much interest here.
(Score: 3, Funny) by FatPhil on Wednesday August 07 2019, @04:37PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by legont on Thursday August 08 2019, @02:42AM
Need a dick on the other side to counterbalance.
"Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.