A paraplegic UC Berkeley graduate was able to walk during the university’s commencement ceremony thanks to an exoskeleton. Austin Whitney was seriously injured in an auto collision in 2007 and hadn’t walked since.
The exoskeleton was built specifically for Austin by UC Berkeley researchers. As you can see in the above video, he was able to walk across the stage this weekend to accept his diploma standing up.
The mechanical exoskeleton isn’t the most advanced of its kind, but it may be the future of such devices. It is lightweight enough to to be easily transported. It’s also built of relatively affordable components.
http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2011/05/12/paraplegic-student-exoskeleton-graduation-walk/
Ph.D. student Mike McKinley explains how the exoskeleton works this video.
videos via Berkeley.edu and CNN
