Bio means “life” and onics means “it is related to electronics”. So bionics is the study of those
mechanical systems or machines that function like body parts of living organisms or the
living organisms themselves. In other words it means using mechanical parts embedded with
electronic devices to assist humans thereby supplementing or duplicating the parts of the
body.The word bionic was coined by Jack E. Steele in 1958.
Rex bionics is the global technology leader in manufacturing robotic walking robotic
devices. Rex is a blessing to all those who dream to walk , run and move with the help of
their legs but remain restricted to their wheel chair. It is a realistic standing and walking
alternative to the wheel chairs. It allows the user to sit, stand, walk, climb or get down stairs
etc. It is a wonderful medium for all those who want to lead a normal life in spite of being
wheel chair ridden . It is a self supporting system. The greatest advantage of rex is that it is
easily adjustable. It works with the help of joysticks so using the device is also very easy.
These robotic systems even have the power of rehabilitation. It also improves the health of
people who are restricted to wheel chairs. Using the rex systems one can stand and move here
and there with proper stability thus eliminating the medical hazards caused due to
continuous sitting at a place for a very long time. The rehabilitation facility available may
also help in recovery in some cases. They also protect users from the shoulder injuries caused
due to crutches. This makes them stress free. Also once rex is charged a person can
continuously walk for about two hours without stopping. However the drawback of these
devices is that these can be used only by those people whose upper part of the body is
normally functioning and they can walk with the help of crutches. These devices can
otherwise be known as robotic mechanised crutches.
Rex comes with a hefty price tag of US $150,000 and at present is only available in New
Zealand. Research is being carried out on how to control the robot with brain signals.
In order to use rex robotics exoskeleton, a user needs to be between 4-foot, 8-inches and 6-
foot, 4-inches tall; weigh less than 220 pounds; and have a hip girth of less than 14.9 inches
as the device weighs about 84 pounds. And, of course, he should be able to afford the price.
Apart from rex, other devices that are trying to give mobility to wheel chair ridden people
include Berkeley Bionics’ eLegs, a robotic exoskeleton created by Berkeley Bionics and
Lockheed Martin to give soldiers superhuman strength to carry loads up to 200 pounds for
extended periods. eLegs are currently undergoing investigational trials and are expected to
become available to rehabilitation centers by the end of the year. Another robotic suit, Argo
Medical Technologies’ ReWalk, is currently undergoing clinical trials in the U.S. The Israeli
company says it expects to be selling ReWalk for personal use for about $83,500 by early
next year.