위로보틱스, 윔, 바이오닉엠, 바이오 레그, Bio Leg, CES

걷거나 등산할 때 에너지 손실을 줄여주고, 불의의 사고로 신체 일부분을 잃은 환자에게는 일상을 돌려주는 '웨어러블 로봇'도 올해 CES에 떠오른 화두다.

한국 스타트업 위로보틱스가 만든 보행보조 웨어러블 로봇 '윔'은 벨트처럼 생긴 밴드를 골반에 감고 양쪽 허벅지에 로봇 보조기를 차면 장착이 끝난다. '보행 보조 모드'로 걸으면 AI가 몸의 움직임을 인식하고 다리를 들어올려주기 때문에 적은 힘으로도 쉽게 걷거나 오를 수 있다. '운동 모드'를 누르면 반대로 로봇이 다리에 압력을 가해 마치 물속을 걷는 듯 저항감을 느낀다.

일본 스타트업 바이오닉엠은 로봇 의족 '바이오 레그'(Bio Leg)를 선보여 최고혁신상을 받았다. 무릎을 절단한 환자를 위해 발명된 웨어러블로, AI가 걷거나 오르는 사용자의 움직임을 파악해 손실된 근육의 힘을 대신해 준다. 쪼그리거나 무릎을 구부리는 등 본래 신체 활동을 그대로 구현할 수 있다.

 

 

 

Wearable robots, which reduce energy loss when walking or climbing and return daily life to patients who have lost parts of their bodies due to unexpected accidents, are also a hot topic at this year's CES.

Wim, a walking assist wearable robot made by Korean start-up Woebotics, is installed by wrapping a belt-like band around your pelvis and putting robot assistants on both thighs. When you walk in "walk assistance mode," AI recognizes your body's movement and lifts your legs, so you can easily walk or climb with little force. When you press "Exercise Mode," the robot puts pressure on your legs and feels resistant as if you are walking in water.

BionicM, a Japanese start-up, received the Best Innovation Award for its introduction of the "Bio Leg," a robotic prosthetic leg. It is a wearable developed for patients who have amputated their knees, and AI detects the movement of the user walking or climbing and replaces the lost muscle strength. It can implement the original physical activity as it is, such as squatting or bending the knee.