KIST develops wearable robot for hiking assistance

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced on Thursday that it has developed a lightweight wearable robot called Moonwalk Omni, weighing only around 2 kg.

KIST revealed that a 65-year-old participant wearing this robot successfully climbed to the summit of Yeonbong in Seoul's Bukhan Mountain, which is 604 meters above sea level, without the need for additional equipment such as hiking sticks.

The robot, worn on the pelvis and knees, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze the wearer's walking pattern in real time.

In various environments, including gentle dirt paths, rough rocky paths, steep wooden stairs, and uneven stone steps, the robot enhances muscle strength by up to 30%.

KIST plans to transfer the technologies and components, such as motors, reducers, and computing circuits, obtained during the development of Moonwalk Omni to domestic companies.

Write to Hae-Sung Lee at ihs@hankyung.com