This year, members of Seattle Mountain Rescue are heading into the wilderness of the US Pacific Northwest with some unusual equipment. On their hikes, they wear powered assistive devices attached to their hips and legs. Designed to increase lower-body strength when climbing or carrying heavy loads, these devices are being tested to find out whether they can improve rescuers’ speed and endurance when it matters most — during searches for people in distress. Such devices are called human exoskeletons. They attach to parts of the body, creating an external — or ‘exo’ — mechanical structure. This powered framework enhances the wearer’s physical capabilities.
What rescuers are testing
This year, members of Seattle Mountain Rescue are using some unusual equipment on hikes through the wilderness of the US Pacific Northwest: powered assistive devices attached to their hips and legs. These devices are designed to increase lower-body strength when climbing or carrying heavy loads.
The testing aims to assess whether such devices can improve rescuers’ speed and endurance at critical moments — during searches for people in distress.
What is an exoskeleton?
Such devices are called human exoskeletons. They attach to parts of the body, creating an external — or ‘exo’ — mechanical structure. This powered framework enhances the wearer’s physical capabilities.
Source: Ars Technica – All content
