Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Engineering professor, doctor jointly develop robot for paraplegic
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) associate professor Kong Kyoung-chul, center, poses with Kim Byeong-wook, left, and Lee Joo-hyun who will compete in the Cybathlon 2020, an international exoskeleton race to be held in Zurich, Switzerland in September. Kim and Lee will wear the WalkON Suit 4, a motor-powered exoskeleton jointly developed by Kong and Severance Hospital doctor Rha Dong-wook for paraplegic patients. / Courtesy of KAIST
By Yi Whan-woo
By Yi Whan-woo
A Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) professor and a doctor at Severance Hospital of Yonsei University College of Medicine have jointly developed a new exoskeleton for people who have paraplegia.
KAIST said Wednesday a team co-led by Kong Kyoung-chul, an associate professor at the school's department of mechanical engineering, and Rha Dong-wook, a professor at the hospital's Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, introduced the WalkON Suit 4 together earlier this week.
The WalkON Suit 4 uses an algorithm to recognize what kind of movement the user wishes to make and helps them stand erect, walk, climb up and down stairs, sit and execute other motions.
The project began in 2014, and unlike previous models, the WalkON Suit 4 uses “prosthetic device technology” as well as other “distinct technologies” developed by KAIST and the Severance Hospital.
The exoskeleton, weighing 25 kilograms, feels “far lighter than previous models,” according to Kong.
“The WalkON Suit 4 is designed for efficient weight distribution. And although its weight is not that different from older versions, its users are relatively freer in compensating for it and have less fatigue as a result,” Kong said.
Lee Joo-hyun and Kim Byeong-wook test the WalkON Suit 4, an exoskeleton for people with paraplegia. / Courtesy of KAIST
Kong said it, however, will be early for WalkON Suit 4 to be commercialized, because of its price and the time taken to customize it.
“My goal is to make exoskeletons that can give people with disabilities much more independence,” he said. “Exoskeletons should be designed for each single user.”
So far, WalkON Suit 4 has been customized for two patients who will compete in the Cybathlon 2020, an international exoskeleton race to be hosted by ETH Zurich, a Swiss science and technology university in Zurich.
The two are Kim Byeong-wook and Lee Joo-hyun.
They were picked after qualifying trials run by KAIST from September 2019 to February for a total of seven candidates.
Korea will be among 25 countries that will send 66 teams to the competition.
This will the second Cybathlon following the inaugural one in 2016. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's race has been rescheduled from May to September.
Teams compete on courses designed to test how well suited a given technology is in helping its user with everyday tasks. It consists of six race categories ―brain-computer interface (BCI), functional electrical stimulation (FES) on a bike, powered arm prosthesis, powered leg prosthesis, powered exoskeleton and powered wheelchair.