Parker Hannifin’s Indego exoskeleton has received a 2013 Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Innovator Award. The awards recognize innovation in fields such as technology, medicine, space exploration and automotive design.
The Indego is a collaboration between Parker Hannifin and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., which developed the exoskeleton. The device is controlled with postural changes as gyroscopes and accelerometers sense the user’s balance. It is intended to help individuals with severe spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative conditions, and to enhance rehabilitation for post-stroke patients.
This exoskeleton serves as a mechanical brace that provides torque, or rotating power, to the hips and knees for walking. The 27-lb. exoskeleton can be quickly assembled and disassembled for ease of use and transportation.
“I am incredibly proud to lead the development of Indego and congratulate the entire team on this exciting win,” Achilleas Dorotheou, vice president and head of human motion and control for Parker Hannifin, stated in a news release. “I thank Vanderbilt University, Shepherd Center [Atlanta] and our clinical trial patients for their partnership, and look forward to exploring where the technology can take us in the future.”
The honorees will be recognized in the November issue of Popular Mechanics, and also celebrated at a conference and awards ceremony at Hearst Tower in New York City on Oct. 22.
