Scientists have developed a power suit that turns a person into a centaur

Scientists from the Chinese city of Shenzhen have developed an unusual power suit that turns a person into something similar to a “centaur” – a hybrid of a person and a robot. The new product looks very futuristic and, according to researchers, can reduce the body’s energy costs by about 35%.

Power suits with hydraulic mechanisms have been used for a long time – they help carry heavy objects and make movement easier. However, the new development, called Centaur, is based on a completely different idea, inspired by the image of a mythical creature. The device is a bipedal robot that is attached to the user’s back and moves synchronously with him, acting as an additional pair of legs.

The robot can adapt to human movements, reacting to changes in speed and direction. Unlike conventional exoskeletons that support the limbs, Centaur takes on the bulk of the load. According to the developers, his mechanical legs are able to fully compensate for the weight of the load being carried, without limiting the user’s natural mobility.

The suit is fixed on the back using a flexible structure with a nonlinear spring. This solution provides comfort: with a light load the system remains soft, and with increasing weight it becomes more stable. This allows for efficient distribution of effort between the person and the device.

According to the researchers, when carrying a load of about 20 kg, using the Centaur reduces metabolic costs by about 35%. This significantly exceeds the performance of traditional exoskeletons, which usually provide an effect of 5-12%. At the same time, the robot not only takes on the weight, but also promotes forward movement, reducing the load on the person.

The developers believe that in the future, humans will be responsible for control and navigation, and robotic systems will be responsible for performing physically demanding work. This approach combines the strengths of man and machine to ensure maximum efficiency.

Let us remind you that in China they developed a robot that blinks and reacts to people.

To be continued…