MIT creates a vest that can be used to control a robot

The innovation allows the robot to gain human reflexes and a sense of balance.

MIT engineers have managed to give the robot a human sense of balance and reflexes. To this end, they have developed a special vest that operates like an avatar. The developers have published a detailed description of the invention in the Science Robotics.

Teaching robots to balance is one of the most challenging engineering tasks.  Many models have already learned to move around, mimicking human motion, but the man still maintains balance much better.

The new solution allows to directly transmit motions a human makes to the robot. This involves a pair of vests - one for the robot and the other for the operator. In this way, the robot exactly mimics the motions the person makes.

Such vests can help to rescue people during fires or in all kinds of emergencies.