Best Inventions of 2003

Inventor: Keijiro Yamamoto

Need a helping hand to lift heavy objects around the house or yard? The Power Assist Suit, developed by a professor at the Kanagawa Institute of Technology in Japan, is a computer-controlled system that uses air pressure to augment your strength. In tests, a 100-lb. woman wearing one was able to lift a 150-lb. man. As you bend your arms and legs to start lifting, sensors on the suit detect which muscles are being used and activate a battery-powered air pump, which in turn inflates a series of air bags on the suit. As the bags inflate, they provide added support for your back, arms and legs.

Availability: 2005, $15,000 to $20,000
To Learn More: yamakei@we.kanagawa-it.ac.jp