A patient wearing an ultra-lightweight elastic suit developed by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) undergoes physical rehabilitation. (ETRI)

By Koh Hyunjeong

A domestic research team has developed an uber-lightweight elastic suit that is expected to contribute to resolving medical and care problems amid the country's surging elderly population.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) on Dec. 11 announced its invention of an ultra-light wearable assistive device using a "tensegrity" structure, or a structurally sound construction featuring a radical separation of compression and tension, to assist physical activities of the elderly, patients undergoing physical rehabilitation and workers.

This gizmo weighs under 1 kg and has the functions necessary for physical assistance while solving the weight, cost and practicality issues of other wearable robots.

"This technology was inspired by the human musculoskeletal system," said Shin Ho-Chul, a principal researcher at ETRI's Human Augmentation Research Lab. "This platform can be expanded from passive products to active systems equipped with motors and artificial intelligence."

Clinical trials on 20 people aged 65 or older and those with physical disabilities showed improvement of 14% in walking speed and 40% in lower-body strength. Time needed to walk the stairs declined 18% and that needed to lift and move objects fell 22%.

The team plans the commercial application of the technology after trials on their practical use at rehabilitation centers and industrial sites.

hjkoh@korea.kr