Inspired by the film series Iron Man, researchers in South Korea have unveiled a lightweight robotic exoskeleton designed to assist individuals with paraplegia, the paralysis of the lower half of the body including both legs, in walking, navigating obstacles, and climbing stairs.

The Exoskeleton Laboratory team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has created the WalkON Suit F1, a wearable robot aimed at seamlessly integrating into the daily lives of people with mobility impairments. "After watching Iron Man, I thought it would be great if I could help people with a robot in real life," team member Park Jeong-su told Reuters in a recent interview.

In a recent demonstration of the suit's functionality, team member and paraplegic researcher Kim Seung-hwan showcased its ability to help him walk at speeds of up to 3.2 km/h (2 mph), climb stairs, and manoeuvre sideways to sit on a bench.

The 50 kg exoskeleton is crafted from aluminium and titanium, powered by 12 electronic motors that simulate human joint movements. Equipped with sensors, the robot monitors 1,000 signals per second to anticipate and adapt to the user's intended motions, ensuring balance and stability during use, according to a recent Reuters report.

The robot also features a lens system acting as "eyes" to analyse its surroundings, detect obstacles, and assess the height of stairs, compensating for the sensory limitations of paraplegic users.

The WalkON Suit F1 gained international recognition when Kim won the gold medal in the exoskeleton category at Cybathlon 2024, a competition showcasing assistive robotic technology to help people with disabilities.