MIT robot mimicks movement of person wearing exoskeleton

Researchers from MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering have designed an interface that takes advantage of a human's split-second reflexes allowing a humanoid to maintain its balance and complete tasks.

Hermes can punch through drywall, smash fizzy drink cans, kick things over and karate chop things in half.

HERMES is operated by a person wearing an exoskeleton, and the reasons his reflexes are so "human" is because he is, in fact, mimicking precisely the actions of that person. When the exoskeleton wearer punches, HERMES does too.
PhD student Joao Ramos demonstrates the Balance Feedback Interface, a system that enables an operator to control the balance and movements of a robot, through an exoskeleton and motorized platform. Photo: Melanie Gonick/MIT




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