Could China build an ‘army of centaurs’ with this non-invasive cyborg tech?
Chinese scientists develop a wearable human-robot device enabling soldiers to carry heavy loads in rugged terrain
Chinese researchers have developed a wearable human-robot hybrid device that could transform soldiers into mighty “centaurs”, enabling them to push beyond their physical limits while walking and hauling loads in brutal environments.
The system, developed by a group at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen, consists of two independent robotic legs and a robotic torso, attached to the user via an elastic interface so that the human and machine together form a four-legged human-centaur.
Tests showed that when carrying a 20kg (44lbs) load, wearing the robot cut the user’s net metabolic cost by 35 per cent and reduced foot pressure by 52 per cent.
Equipped with autonomous path-planning and the human-robot interface, the cyborg showed impressive agility and terrain adaptability, moving smoothly over stairs, slopes and rough outdoor ground.
But its rather odd appearance and counter-intuitive design have also prompted debate online, with some dismissing the idea that even a handcart seems more useful than this.