South Korean Team Develops WalkON Suit F1: A Wearable Robot to Aid Paraplegics

A South Korean research team has introduced the WalkON Suit F1, a lightweight wearable robot designed to assist paraplegic users. This innovative device can approach users, attach itself to them, and enable walking, navigating obstacles, and climbing stairs. Developed by the Exoskeleton Laboratory at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the goal is to integrate this robot seamlessly into the lives of people with mobility impairments.

Kim Seung-hwan, a parapsychic researcher on the KAIST team, showcased the robot’s capabilities. With the WalkON Suit F1, he walked at a speed of 3.2 kph (2 mph), climbed stairs, and even manoeuvred into a bench with sideways steps. “It can find me wherever I am, even in a wheelchair, and help me stand up,” Kim explained, highlighting the suit’s unique features.

Constructed from aluminium and titanium, the WalkON Suit F1 weighs just 50 kg (110 lbs) and operates with 12 electronic motors that mimic human joint movements. Inspired by the movie Iron Man, team member Park Jeong-su envisioned creating a real-life robot to assist people. The robot includes advanced sensors that monitor 1,000 signals per second to maintain balance and anticipate user movements. Front-facing lenses act as “eyes,” allowing the suit to analyse surroundings, gauge object heights, and detect obstacles, compensating for the sensory limitations of users with complete paraplegia.

Kim, wearing the WalkON Suit F1, won gold in the exoskeleton category at Cybathlon 2024, a competition showcasing assistive robotic technologies for people with disabilities. “I wanted my son to know that I used to walk,” Kim said, expressing his desire to share diverse experiences with his child.

This groundbreaking technology represents a significant step forward in empowering paraplegic users to regain mobility and independence.