Kim Seunghwan is unable to walk due to a lower-body paralysis caused by an accident. He once couldn't stand up and lift his child, but now he has hope. A wearable robot is the link that connects him to his child.

Researcher Seunghwan Kim, who is completely paralyzed in the lower body, is demonstrating walking while wearing a wearable robot developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on the 24th, with his young son (left) watching. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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On the 24th, Kim Seunghwan demonstrated standing up while wearing the wearable robot 'WalkON Suit F1', as his child watched. The robot approached on its own and fitted itself perfectly to Kim's body. He didn't even need to use his hands. Then, without any assistance, he stood up. The onlookers cheered. His child, who had only seen him in a wheelchair, saw him stand up confidently. Wearing the robot, he walked vigorously. Walking alone wasn't enough. He carried a bag, walked down a narrow corridor, and sat down and stood up from a chair. This was part of his training to compete in an international competition with the robot that made him a regular dad again. The competition is the 'Cybathlon' hosted by ETH Zurich in Switzerland. The goal is, of course, to win.

The research team led by Professor Kong Kyungchul (Chairman of Angel Robotics) from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST, President Lee Kwanghyung) unveiled a new version of the wearable robot for paraplegics, the 'WalkON Suit F1', on the 24th.

Researcher Seunghwan Kim, who is completely paralyzed in the lower body, is wearing a wearable robot developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on the 24th. This new wearable robot, which can be put on immediately without needing to get out of the wheelchair or assistance from others, is expected to demonstrate a significant technological gap in wearable robot technology.
[Photo by Asia Economy]

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This robot is the culmination of Professor Kong's research team's efforts to pioneer wearable robots for paraplegics. This new wearable robot can be put on directly from a wheelchair without needing to get off or receive help from others, and is expected to prove a significant technological leap in wearable robotics.

Professor Kong explained, "The name F1 itself is not for everyday use, but rather to demonstrate overwhelming performance in competition." After winning the gold medal in the wearable robot category at the 2020 Cybathlon, an international competition for assistive robots hosted by ETH Zurich, Professor Kong's team will compete in the third Cybathlon after four years. The goal is, of course, to win. In the demonstration, the WalkON Suit F1 confidently met the requirements of the Cybathlon competition.

This robot targets the ASIA-A (complete paralysis) level, the most severe degree of paraplegia. Unlike the Angel Legs M20, a commercialized gait rehabilitation robot covered by health insurance through Angel Robotics, which Professor Kong founded, the WalkON Suit F1 has a different form and purpose. While previous products were designed to help stroke patients walk safely, the WalkON Suit F1 focuses on enabling those who cannot walk to stand up without assistance from others.

Walking speed and similar metrics achieved during this development were not the focus. The key was to develop a robot that could be put on independently, not one that required someone else to help.

Park Jeongsu, a KAIST researcher who participated in the development, said, "While other robots focused on continuous walking, we focused on taking the first step and being able to put it on alone."

The WalkON Suit F1 provides a technical solution to this fundamental issue. Instead of a rear-entry design, it uses a front-entry method, allowing users to put it on directly from a wheelchair without assistance. Careful consideration was given so that long-term wheelchair users would not feel discomfort. The robot was meticulously designed to avoid any anxiety that might arise from sudden donning.

Additionally, before being worn, the robot approaches the user on its own like a humanoid. With active control of its center of gravity, the robot can maintain balance even if the user pushes it incorrectly, preventing falls. The design of the WalkON Suit F1, which bridges humanoid and wearable robots, was led by Professor Park Hyunjun from the KAIST Department of Industrial Design.

Not only can both hands be freely used while standing upright, but balance control performance has also been improved to allow walking several steps without a cane.
Photo by Asia Economy

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The fundamental functions of the wearable robot have also been greatly improved. In an upright position, the user can freely use both hands, and the balance control has been enhanced to allow walking several steps without a cane.

The KAIST research team laid the groundwork for the robot's design, and Angel Robotics contributed further. All core components, including the motor, reducer, motor driver, and main circuit, were domestically produced. The output density of the motor and reducer modules is about twice that of previous technologies (based on power-to-weight ratio), and the motor driver's control performance is about three times better than the world's best technology (based on frequency response speed).

Notably, even without expensive high-level controllers, the embedded software technology of the motor driver has been greatly improved to reliably implement advanced motion control algorithms. The robot is also equipped with vision for obstacle detection and an AI board for artificial intelligence applications.

Professor Kong described the WalkON Suit as "the culmination of wearable robot technology for people with disabilities," adding, "The numerous components, control, and module technologies derived from the WalkON Suit are setting the standard for the entire wearable robot industry," and predicted a significant gap with overseas competitors.

Professor Kong recently stepped down as CEO of Angel Robotics and took on the role of CTO. He explained, "I found the right person to lead the company so I can focus solely on technology development."

Regarding the fact that Angel Robotics, a KAIST faculty startup, saw its initial valuation of 1 trillion won drop to about one-third, Professor Kong said, "I will work to make it a unicorn (with a market capitalization of over 1 trillion won) again." He added, "I already have many ideas in my head about the diverse future of wearable robots." He expressed confidence that, beyond current rehabilitation support wearable robots, he would introduce various forms of wearable robots like Iron Man and Spider-Man suits. Professor Kong also revealed that the Cybathlon organizers have invited him to serve as the chair of the next competition, indicating that his team's skills are recognized internationally.

The morale among the research team was also high. Park Jeongsu, a KAIST researcher who will serve as team captain alongside Kim Seunghwan at the Cybathlon, said, "Since we won first place at the last competition, our goal this time is not just to compete for ranking but to demonstrate our technological superiority," adding, "I am also considering starting a business in the future, and the professor said he would actively support it."