Over the weekend at the BARRIER FREE 2008 (Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27, 2008) show in Osaka, Japan Honda displayed a new device that enables weak legged people to walk. This walking assist device was designed for people who are definitely capable of still walking on their own. It is more of an “assist” device that gives that extra power to move around. Weighing only about six pounds (2.8 kg) for the medium sized version it should be light enough to be extremely useful. You can place a bet that Honda is working on a way to make the weight of the device even lighter. With the ASIMO robot and this new walking assist device Honda seems committed to assisting the elderly and the handicapped with their everyday tasks. Complete specifications listed below along with a few photos and if I can get it to work a video of the walking assist device in action.

Honda’s Walking Assist Device