Robotic Fabric Increases Strength
A research team in Korea recently introduced robot technology that can enhance people’s strength. Incredibly, this invention can be put on like normal clothes.The researchers were part of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials* in the city of Daejeon. In April, they announced that they had developed a new type of soft robot that can be worn on the body. They called their device a “suit-type wearable robot.”The device, which weighs less than 1 kilogram, is composed of flexible memory alloys* that can alter their shape. The alloys are thinner than strands of hair, and when woven together, they feel like soft fabric.The robotic fabric can be attached to various parts of the body, such as arms and legs. Controlled by an electric current, it is able to contract and relax, just like human muscles.As it does, the wearable robot can help to increase the overall muscle strength of the wearer. The researchers confirmed this ability during their testing phase. They had their subjects perform a variety of physical tasks while wearing the device. These included lifting heavy objects and climbing stairs.The researchers said that the robotic fabric enabled the wearers to perform the tasks with ease. On average, they used only 50 percent of their normal strength.The researchers pointed out many possible applications for their invention. For example, it can help manual laborers at warehouses and construction sites to save their energy and strength. It can also aid senior citizens who find it hard to walk or perform physical actions.“The wearable robot can raise Korea’s competitiveness in the robotic field and create new business opportunities,” said Park Cheol-hoon, who led the research teamQuestions:1. Talk about the purpose of the development of the soft robot technology by the Daejeon City government.2. Describe the features of the “suit-type wearable robot.”3. How does this new technology work? How flexible and heavy-duty can this get?4. In what ways can this invention help the manual laborers and the companies? Will this make a huge boost in South Korea's competitive robotic field?5. How badly can this affect the current employment structure?Vocabulary:1. Soft robot - a robot that employs the attributes of living beings rather than an android enclosed in metal2. Flexible memory alloy - provides more freedom of movements and a better integration in wearable robots, especially in soft wearable robots
