SpringWalkerTM

by Applied Motion, Inc.

Photo-Brian Smale
    The SpringWalkerTM body amplifier is the first of a new breed of vehicles -- it's got legs. Isn't it strange, with the wonderful running and leaping capabilities of all kinds of animals, that there are still no machines to get you from here to there on legs? Why not?

    The answer is surprisingly simple: Our bodies are so well designed that it has taken 200 years of human engineering to catch up. Even with advanced materials and power sources, our technology has not been capable of building a simple running vehicle until now.

You may already have seen our prototype in action on television or in a magazine. If you haven't, check out our Link to a live video demonstration. The revolutionary capability of this human powered model is proof-in-principle for the SpringWalker concept. It demonstrates for the first time an energy recovery system with the control and flexibility required to enhance the human running gait.

We are presently developing a servo power system to advance SpringWalker technology to the next level. The personal vehicle for the 21st century will have you trotting four-minute miles without tiring and scrambling up a mountain like an ATV. Look for this and more as our work progresses.

When can I get one? Electric powered demonstration units will be available on a custom basis once the servo technology is validated, and a spring-powered kit may also be offered.
Photo-Brian Smale
    How does it work? Of course there are many engineering details that combine to enable an actual running machine. However, the heart of the SpringWalker technology, described in U.S. patent 5,016,869 combines two ideas for the first time.
  • Leg force is increased and body weight distributed by means of a leveraged exoskeleton; and
  • A single spring is coupled to both legs. This prevents foot-dragging and enables a natural gait for the user.
A computer-designed linkage combines these elements to give the first true running gaits in a spring powered body amplifier. It also provides an ideal match to the capabilities of electric servo-motors. Watch this site in the coming months for news of progress in the servo-powered development.

Links

Click on any of the pictures to see a larger version. Please let us know if you find other WWW sites that reference the SpringWalker body amplifier. Fill out our information Request Form, or direct a message on any subject to design engineer and builder Eric Edwards, performance designer and test engineer Bruce Crapuchettes, or conceptual designer John Dick.

© Applied Motion