Hybrid Assistive Limb

For the fictional character, see HAL 9000.

Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL)
A man wearing a 2005 prototype version of the HAL suit (left)
ManufacturerCyberdyne
CountryJapan
Year of creation1997 (earliest prototype)
2012 (full HAL-5 suit)
TypePowered exoskeleton
Soft exoskeleton
PurposeMedical
Search and rescue
Websitecyberdyne.jp

The Hybrid Assistive Limb (also known as HAL) is a powered, soft-bodied exoskeleton suit developed by Japan's Tsukuba University and the robotics company Cyberdyne. It is designed to support and expand the physical capabilities of its users, particularly people with physical disabilities. There are two primary versions of the system: HAL 3, which only provides leg function, and HAL 5, which is a full-body exoskeleton for the arms, legs, and torso.

In 2011, Cyberdyne and Tsukuba University jointly announced that hospital trials of the full HAL suit would begin in 2012, with tests to continue until 2014 or 2015.[1] By October 2012, HAL suits were in use by 130 different medical institutions across Japan.[2] In February 2013, the HAL system became the first powered exoskeleton to receive global safety certification.[3] In August 2013, HAL received EC certification for clinical use in Europe as the world's first non-surgical medical treatment robot.[4][5] In addition to its medical applications, the HAL exoskeleton has been used in construction and disaster response work.[6][7]

  1. ^ "Robot suit offers glimmer of hope to the paralysed". Times of Malta. 11 March 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference October2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Japan robot suit gets global safety certificate". AFP via Google. 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
  4. ^ "TÜV Rheinland Issues EC certificate for Cyberdyne's Medical Robot Suit HAL®". TÜV Rheinland. 7 August 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Global Companies from Japan". Weekly Toyo Keizai. 14 September 2013. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ConstructOb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference 18October2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).