Japanese Robo-Suit Helps the Elderly to Farm

Farming is backbreaking work even when you’re young–all that bending down repeatedly under the beating sun can take its toll. Researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology think they have a fix for aging farmers: a robo-suit that makes workers’ arms and legs stronger. The metal and plastic device features eight electric motors as well as a voice-recognition system and sensors that track movement.
So far, the researchers have developed two models. One 66 pound model is intended for heavy lifting, while a smaller model is designed for easier jobs–i.e. picking grapes. According to researchers working on the project, the robo-suits can cut down on users’ physical exertion by 62%.