Yudu - Nanotimes October/November 2010

10-10/11 :: October/November 2010

nanotimes

Companies Facts

he gleaming white plastic housing of HAL®

is now ba-

sed on a thermoplastic polymer blend from the Bayblend®

product

class. “Our material combines the requisite impact resistance with a stylish design,” explained Dr. Lorenz Kramer, who is responsible for the Robotics section at Bayer MaterialScience. Our partnership with CYBERDYNE is enabling us to step up our global activities on the future-oriented robotics market.”

In Japan, HAL® Limb®

(Hybrid Assistive ) for lower limbs is already

available as a leasing model for use in welfare facilities. In this application, the exoskeleton helps the wearer with day-to-day activities such as walking, standing up and climbing stairs. Bayer MaterialScience is supplying high-quality material for an innovative exoskeleton designed to support the human motor function and strength. Robot Suit®

HAL®

DYNE “Bayblend®

improves the functionality of HAL® considerably,” commented Professor Yoshiyuki Sankai,

CEO and founder of CYBERDYNE Inc. He believes polymers could have numerous other applications in the manufacture of robots as a replacement for the metal components that are in widespread use today but which are hampered by too many limitations. Sankai again: “We are very impressed with the inno- vative capability and technological focus of Bayer MaterialScience. We look forward to continuing this partnership in the future.”

Image: Robot Suit® HAL® supports the human motor function. The shell is made of high-quality material from Bayer

, developed and manufactured by the Japanese company CYBER-