MSU students design human-powered robotic suit

VADODARA: When Vivek Tanna, a student dons the Maximus-exoskeleton suit, he transforms into a gigantic robot, towering at a height of nine feet with eight limbs.
Maximus-exoskeleton is a mechanical human-powered robot like suit that is the brainchild of a group of youngsters from MS University's faculty of technology and engineering.
"The robotic suit has been inspired from the exoskeleton devised by 'Team Skeletonics', a team of engineers from Japan," said Vivek Tanna, a part of the 10-member team that built the mechanical robot suit.
"We are in the process of a developing an electronically automated exoskeleton that will enable the wearer to perform heavy tasks at the touch of a button," Tanna added.
The wearable robot with arms and legs that is suspended by ropes is made from aluminum cross sections to replicate human movements.
"We have created a basic version of exoskeleton. Presently, the exoskeleton is capable of holding 70kg of human weight, shift directions and mimic actions," said Sarthak Patel, another team member.
"The advanced versions include pneumatics and hydraulic exoskeletons that operate on air and fluid pressure and are being developed by US military for prosthetic rehabilitation," added Patel.
The exoskeleton that does not have a single electrical interference works on four bars and pantograph mechanisms. All your movements get multiplied exponentially once you wear the suit.
"We have used 'breaking mechanism' in exoskeleton that enables the robot to emulate the movements of the wearer," said Sunny Patel, student and yet another member of the team.
The suit was displayed for the first time at the university's technical fest - Footprints 2015.