HOW WE WALK: Walking is different from a running gait because only one foot at a time lifts off the ground. During forward motion, the leg that leaves the ground swings forward from the hip, like a pendulum. Then the leg strikes the ground with the heel and rolls through the toe in a motion similar to an inverted pendulum. The motion of the two legs is coordinated so that one foot or the other is always in contact with the ground -- a so-called 'double pendulum' strategy. The process of walking recovers about 60 percent of the energy expended thanks to the pendulum dynamics and the ground reaction force (the legs act as long levers that transfer ground reaction force to the spine).
ABOUT A.I. AND THE WALKER: Robots and computer networks are always evolving intelligent consciousness in popular science fiction. But while modern scientists have made great strides in building computers that can mimic logical thought, they still haven't cracked the code of human emotion and consciousness. A computer might seem intelligent, but it is not aware of what it is doing, with no sense of self or consciousness. However, the intelligent walker can interpret and act on commands, such as "take me to the kitchen." The device can be adjusted to provide different amounts of aid depending on the needs of the patient and can make adjustments to its surroundings.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.-USA, contributed to the information contained in the TV portion of this report.