In a move that may seem straight out of a science-fiction film, researchers at Japan’s Keio University have developed a wearable robotic tail designed to help humans with balance and mobility. Named Arque, the device mimics the way animals use their tails as a counterbalance, offering a groundbreaking solution for the elderly and those with physical impairments.
The one-meter-long, grey-colored tail is inspired by the biomechanics of a seahorse’s tail and is strapped around the user’s waist with a harness. It operates using four artificial muscles and compressed air, allowing it to move in eight different directions to counter the wearer’s movements.
“The tail keeps balance like a pendulum,” said Junichi Nabeshima, a graduate student and researcher at the university’s Embodied Media Project. “When a human tilts their body one way, the tail moves in the opposite direction.”
While still in the prototype phase, the device is part of a larger push in Japan to use technology to support its rapidly aging population. The researchers envision a future where Arque could be used not only to help the elderly but also to assist warehouse workers carrying heavy loads or to enhance the immersive experience of virtual reality.
The tail’s innovative design has already gained international attention, highlighting Japan’s leadership in the field of robotics and assistive technology. As researchers continue to refine the prototype and find ways to make it more flexible and portable, the Arque tail promises to be a revolutionary aid that could change the way we think about human mobility and augmentation.
