maxon drives help people to walk again

On October 8, people with paraplegia are going on a footrace at the Cybathlon in Zrich. Aided by exoskeletons, they compete against each other on an obstacle course to show the public how far advanced technology has become in this area.

Robotic suits have to be powerful and lightweight at the same time. Too much weight would drain the battery in no time. This presents a big challenge to developers. Most of the motors that are strong enough to power an exoskeleton are large and heavy. This is why engineers are turning to the Swiss company that already developed the drives for NASA's Mars rovers: maxon motor. Drives from maxon are powerful, lightweight, and energy-efficient, which means that they conserve battery power. They are also very durable.

maxon CEO Eugen Elmiger says: "We spent decades perfecting our motors." A lot of money has gone into research and development. It was worth it: these days, the motors from Switzerland can be found everywhere, in robots, airplanes, cars, and medical devices.

Providing competent technical support for customers is just as important as delivering high-quality products. Small businesses and start-ups often approach maxon with specific drive technology problems that they lack the expert knowledge to solve by themselves. maxon motor in turn is able to help with its extensive experience in the field, a strength that lets the company stand out from the international competition. Elmiger says: "Our knowledge and the ability to give expert advice are a great advantage in the market." The Cybathlon is a good example: in the field of exoskeletons, the Swiss company has a pretty clear idea about what's important besides choosing the right motor. As a result, quite a few of the participating teams are using products from Switzerland. The same is true for other disciplines, such as prosthetic arms or legs and electrical wheelchairs.

For examples, please see the special Cybathlon brochure by maxon (available free of charge). Alternatively, you can visit the tech website: drive.tech.

maxon supports the Cybathlon as a sponsor and partner

The Cybathlon games are organised by the ETH Zrich and are held for the first time on 8 October 2016 at the Swiss Arena in Zrich. Around 80 teams from all over the world will be participating. The machine-assisted competitors will compete against one another in six disciplines: prosthetic legs, prosthetic arms, exoskeletons, motorised wheelchairs, bicycles with muscle stimulation, and virtual racing using thought control. What's disallowed at the Paralympics is an absolute must at the Cybathlon: the use of state-of-the-art technology. ETH professor Robert Riener, who invented the Cybathlon says: "Our aim with the Cybathlon is to break down barriers between the general public, people with disabilities, and scientists." The Swiss drive specialist maxon motor supports the Cybathlon as a sponsor and partner. The company will be present at the games with a workshop for the teams and a small exhibition about the history of prosthetics.

Go to www.maxonmotor.co.uk for more information.