A changing robot will help you put on a protective suit without your participation

The changing robot is equipped with the likeness of octopus tentacles and puts on a protective suit without human intervention, even in motion.

South Korean and American engineers have presented a system that puts a protective suit on a person itself. Non-stop. Without help, clarifies xrust. And without having to stand straight.

The technology is built on soft flexible elements reminiscent of octopus tentacles . They are built into the fabric and driven by air pressure. When the mechanism is activated, «tentacles» wrap around the user's body, pulling and securing the suit. This principle allows the robot to work even on a person who is walking, bending or changing posture — that is, in conditions where conventional robotic solutions lose accuracy and require rigid fixation.

The idea was born from a simple everyday scene. One of the researchers recalled trying to put on a raincoat while walking during a sudden downpour. In the lab, this episode evolved into a prototype that dons the suit in about ten seconds. For Russian cleanrooms, where training an employee can take several times longer, this sounds like a real acceleration of processes.

It is especially noteworthy that the robot does not use complex AI algorithms. It works due to the physics of soft materials and precise calculation of pressure. Against the background of the craze for artificial intelligence, this engineering concept looks fresh: mechanics and materials provide no less advantages than software solutions, and sometimes even surpass them in reliability.

The new product is being actively discussed on social networks. Some see it as helping the elderly and people with limited mobility. Others are a tool for rescuers who need to don a protective suit under pressure and time pressure. Representatives of the defense and security industry note that equipment automation reduces the likelihood of errors and makes the process more predictable.

The global market for personal protective equipment is estimated at tens of billions of dollars (in terms of hundreds of billions of rubles). If the technology is brought to industrial level, it could become a significant competitive advantage for manufacturers of protective clothing and equipment, especially in segments where speed and accuracy are critical.

News on https://www.reuters.com

Xrust Changing robot will help you put on a protective suit without your participation