Researchers improve efficiency of human walking

https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_images.jsp?cntn_id=134667&org=NSF

by SpaceInvader • 11 years ago

70 30 11 years ago

nsf.gov

jules• 11 years ago

Though what we really need is a device to decrease the efficiency of human walking.

glial• 11 years ago

Beer.

chrisBob• 11 years ago

That is already a mature technology. I prefer to use a heavy pack but cell phones are also a popular technique.

anon4• 11 years ago

There's an even simpler device -- the string. Simply tie your ankles together and presto.

jtheory• 11 years ago

It depends on your goals, of course.

For lots of adults these days, walking is the only exercise they get. If they're lucky it's a brisk walk.

Making that little bit of exercise consume less energy isn't really a goal in those cases.

Of course, there are still applications for this. They just seem unlike to be found among the sedentary masses.

kzhahou• 11 years ago

Does an unpowered clutch engage a spring in parallel with the Achilles tendon when the foot is on the ground, offloading the calf muscles and making walking easier?

diminoten• 11 years ago

That's... exactly what the caption under the first image says.

JoeAltmaier• 11 years ago

He's mocking the article, which repeats that caption on every picture.

imh• 11 years ago

Yes, when walking with a passive-elastic ankle exoskeleton.

kbar13• 11 years ago

interesting. I didn't know that an unpowered clutch engages a spring in parallel with the Achilles tendon when the foot is on the ground, offloading the calf muscles and making walking easier.

socialist_coder• 11 years ago

I thought it was common knowlege? I know I've heard it enough times.

deegles• 11 years ago

I wonder if they also increase the efficiency of running. Maybe the first marathon runner to break the 2-hour barrier will be wearing them.

If the efficiency increase is significant, I could see it becoming common to wear for commuting to work. You could run longer distances with less wear on your body.

snarkyturtle• 11 years ago

I feel like the running community would shun them, since it's technically an method of assistance.

Besides, I bet for ultra-elite marathon runners, the bulk of the shoe would outweigh the benefits it provides. You're talking about people who wear super-light minimalist shoes because it gives them an advantage.

robotresearcher• 11 years ago

The claimed walking advantage is 7% even with the extra weight, which is a hell of a lot. They make no claim for running.

Potando• 11 years ago

This is a paradox of runners and cyclists too. They use high-tech gear to make running easier - easier than a naked human can do it - but they refuse powered assistance. I don't understand why they make such a clear distinction between using gadgets to save power and using gadgets to provide more power. If it's about natural un-assisted ability, they shouldn't wear shoes either.

Someone• 11 years ago

Depends on a lot of factors, including whether the public would like it (would they applaud the higher speeds or find it cheating?)

There already is a lot of assistance in athletics, not even limited to footwear. For example, running tracks have 9 lanes nowadays, even though only 8 people start in sprinting events. Reason? The innermost lane is softer, for middle and long distance runners; the other 8 are harder for the shorter distances.

On the other hand, it always surprises me that, in athletics, competitors wear numbers tied to their shirts with safety pins. Especially in the 100m and 200m, the one on the back of the runner must cause significant drag.

ssully• 11 years ago

In the article they mention it's about a 7% efficiency increase, which they say is equivalent to taking of a 10 pound backpack. Which considering it's an unpowered device, it actually really impressive to me.

The running example would be fun to look at, but I think the benefit this could give to people who have trouble walking is even better. My grandfather had post polio syndrome which made walking incredibly difficult for him for most of his life. He didn't let it stop him, but you could see the pain on his face whenever he walked. I think something like this would have been beneficial for him.

rjurney• 11 years ago

I could imagine military applications for this... especially if a soldier is armored, carrying a pack, etc.

DubiousPusher• 11 years ago

https://www.cmu.edu/me/news/archive/2015/collins-clutch.html

A more conventional article about the device and related paper.

epicureanideal• 11 years ago

I hope we'll soon be able to buy one of these. I'd get one.

tacon• 11 years ago

This is amazing, though I admit I had to click through just to see if it was an April Fools headline leftover.

amelius• 11 years ago

"Download the high resolution of the image"

Unfortunately, the "high" resolution only holds for the x and y dimensions, not the t dimension.

ylem• 11 years ago

Here's a link to the nature article: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/natu...

joe_the_user2• 11 years ago

I've studied a number of martial arts and body work disciplines. One thing we did was teach people is to walk more efficiently - it's not hard given that the average person just follows the example of their peers and then allows habitual muscle tension to gradually interfere.

The thing about this device is I suspect that even if did work, it would just allow people to just further lower their level of coordination and ultimately have rather poor health results.

panorama• 11 years ago

What is the correct method of walking?

joe_the_user2• 11 years ago

Well,

Essentially "correct," or at least elegant, walking involves balance and a lack of tension. Naturally learning this requires a lot of direct experience since walking is primarily a reflex activity. However, walking is at the same a skill which can be learned and modified if someone looks into hands-on methods.

However, you can get some idea reading about The Alexander Technique, The Feldenkrais Method, Tai Chi and so forth.

[1] http://www.alexandertechnique.com/at.htm [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feldenkrais_Method [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tai_chi

bougiefever• 11 years ago

Maybe these can just do my exercising for me so I can watch more Netflix

trose• 11 years ago

I guess you could say he's got a _spring_ in his step...

swehner• 11 years ago

April fool's leftover?

Researchers improve efficiency of human walking

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