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Science & Technology

Wearable 'tail' can help improve your balance

By T.K. Randall
August 6, 2019 · Comment icon 12 comments

Would you wear a robotic tail to work ? Image Credit: YouTube / Yamen Saraiji
This remarkable wearable robotic tail has been developed by researchers at Keio University in Japan.
While tails for humans have actually been available for years in Japan, these are typically purely cosmetic in nature and worn more for fun than for any appreciable practical benefit.

Now though, researchers have invented a whole new type of tail - one that is designed to augment the wearer's capabilities by helping them to balance more effectively during a range of movements.
Known as the Arque tail, the device is based on the tail of a seahorse and is comprised of a series of interconnected plastic vertebrae as well as four 'muscles' powered by compressed air.

It has already proven particularly effective at acting as a counterbalance to help workers pick up heavy objects, a bit like an exoskeleton that provides the wearer with enhanced strength.

There is also the potential for the tail to provide haptic feedback for virtual reality users.



Source: Gizmodo | Comments (12)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #3 Posted by Bendy Demon 5 years ago
Kind of cool really but what if the cause of ones balance issues is largely due to some abnormality of the inner ear? I am not sure an artificial tail would help those people. Still like the idea though. :)
Comment icon #4 Posted by AllPossible 5 years ago
I'll make sure I sing my next karaoke song when I buy this..... I'm a model ya you know what I mean And I do my little turn on the catwalk Yeah, on the catwalk, on the catwalk, yeah I do my little turn on the catwalk
Comment icon #5 Posted by Piney 5 years ago
This would help some autistic people whose issue is their motor skills. 
Comment icon #6 Posted by XenoFish 5 years ago
I'm livin' the dream!!!
Comment icon #7 Posted by Hammerclaw 5 years ago
Pretty lame. In China, they're breeding real monkey people.
Comment icon #8 Posted by Golden Duck 5 years ago
Sir Mix-A-Lot does not approve.
Comment icon #9 Posted by pixiii 5 years ago
The Furry community who love a bit of Cosplay will absolutely applaud this idea.  Although, I'm not sure it'll fit into their budgets for their costumes, but the aiding in balance aspect of the tail will be so handy for some.  Kinda like an extra limb in a way.  Made me think of Kangaroos actually.  Gotta hand it to the Asians, they really do think outside the box with their inventions. Oh LOL that's so wrong (stifles laugh), yet so funny and yet so true?!  
Comment icon #10 Posted by jowasmus 5 years ago
Why? I mean, REALLY, why? Wings would have been a much better idea. :D
Comment icon #11 Posted by DieChecker 5 years ago
I'm going to do my best to never have to wear one of these.
Comment icon #12 Posted by Jon the frog 5 years ago
Some people wear other kinds of false ''Tail'' to improve something else.


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