Wearables

Honda's Bodyweight Support Assist selected for NY innovation exhibition

Honda's Bodyweight Support Assist selected for NY innovation exhibition
View 2 Images
1/2
2/2

Some of you may recall our piece on Honda's Body Support Assist prototype last year. As a quick update to that story, those of you in the New York area will get a chance to see it in person as a part of the "Why Design Now?" exhibition at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Honda's unique device lightens the load on the user's legs and helps maintain a center of gravity via special mechanisms developed by the company. Walking, crouching, climbing stairs - all become easier with help from Body Support Assist. Needless to say, there are plenty of use cases for such a product, not the least of which would be helping people afflicted with mobility issues or leg problems. Honda has a promo video (included below) demonstrating how the device is worn and operated.

The exhibition will feature a variety of innovations and designs intended to have a positive impact on our world, spanning the fields of engineering, energy, and conservation to name a few. If you can't make it to New York in person, stay tuned to Cooper Hewitt's YouTube channel for updated videos clips featuring smart design.

'Why Design Now?' Event Details:

The show will run from May 14, 2010 to January 9, 2011 at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum on 2 East 91st Street, Manhattan. More information is available via their website, cooperhewitt.org.Source: Honda

4 comments
4 comments
Craig Jennings
that\'d be handy for crouching down next to vehicles for graphic application!!!
gordon__baker
One of the problems the handicapped face is climbing stairs in a wheel chair. With the proper modifications, a handicapped individual can do things once thought impossible for him/her: such as climbing stairs, walking mountain trails or any trail with this device.
Honda had started paving the way for new mobility for the physically challenged.
HenryFarkas
If that Honda Bodyweight Support Assist device is powered, then I can see where it\'d be helpful for a long walk, although it might be irritating to the crotch area. If it\'s not powered, but just spring loaded, then it\'s still helpful for crouching, especially for those of us like myself who are extremely well supplied with fatty tissue. But for taking long walks, it just takes some of the strain off those muscles that hold the body up against gravity, and transfers that effort to those muscles that lift the leg off the ground so you can take your next step. Your little blurb, and the little video, leaves it unclear as to how this gizmo works.
Mr Stiffy
Reminds me of some crutch rubbing sex toy......
Add a vibrating pad and the women would all just have to have one...
LOL