Original article here :

http://www.botjunkie.com/2008/04/17/cyberdyne-building-factory-to-construct-c...

This is Cyberdyne’s HAL (hybrid assistive limb) exoskeleton, a powered robotic suit designed to significantly increase the strength of the wearer. Using sensors attached to the skin, HAL senses which muscles you intend to move, and powers its joints at the same rate as you move yours, allowing you to walk around effortlessly while wearing the fifty pound suit. If you pick something up, the suit is able to compensate for a portion of the weight, effectively increasing your strength from 2 to 10 (!) times. The suit can be used indoors or outdoors and will provide power for between about three to five hours before it needs a recharge.

I was lucky enough to find a Japanese video of the robot suit - it makes the Sarco Exoskeleton look crude in comparison. The funniest part is whe the inventor loads 4 x 10 kg sacks of rice on to the HAL suited person , then does the same to an unpowered (but game) guy :)