November 25, 2024

"As the wearer walks, the shorts analyze the user’s movement pattern and take some of the load from their hips, adapting to their pace and kicking in just as the hip joint swings."

"The garment helps the wearer with hip flexion, an activity that researchers say demands 'considerable power,' especially on uneven terrain or stairs. The effects are comparable to removing up to 22 pounds from a wearer’s weight, the researchers write."


From the comments over there: "Suppose I don't want to take a walk but my shorts do?"

And someone recommends "The Wrong Trousers."

49 comments:

Mikey NTH said...

Hey, where are you taking me?

Jamie said...

Hmm. My problem is arthritic knees - I wonder whether this unloading would made walking on uneven terrain and on stairs less painful, or if these are designed specifically for hip problems.

Nah. Even if they were to help, I think I'll stick to PT. Shorts that aren't robotic are going to be harder and harder to get away with as I get older, though from a "mutton dressed as lamb" standpoint rather than from a "what the hell are those" standpoint.

Wilbur said...

The first 6 minutes of Wrong Trousers is great. I'll watch the rest later.

Kate said...

C'mon, there must be something at the article that requires the "men in shorts" tag!

Also, "It's the wrong trousers, Gromit" is one of our family's go-to quotes.

Jaq said...

This guy on Reno 911 was way ahead of the curve.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Men in (robotic) shorts. I never expected MAGA results so quickly.

Dixcus said...

And yet this post doesn't get the coveted "Men In Shorts" tag. SMH

Dixcus said...

Warning. Wallace & Gromit & That Damn Penguin is a time sinkhole about the size of that Black Hole in Interstellar.

Ralph L said...

Be careful what you put in your pockets.

rehajm said...

They have a new adventure out. On the Netflix soon…

rehajm said...

Wowsers Trousers!

Just an old country lawyer said...

The old guys chime in! Unfortunately, these are not yet carried by Amazon, or I would get several pairs ( through the Althouse portal, of course) for myself, my family members and tottering friends. Maybe they will be commercially available by next Christmas. Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

rehajm said...

Invent some golf shorts that prevent early extension and you’ll never want for money…

tcrosse said...

A gentleman might wish to keep his wedding tackle out of the machinery.

Oh Yea said...

But do they come in cargo shorts version?

Maynard said...

Hmmm. Something to look into when I hit 80 and continue to hike/walk about 20 miles a week.

Tacitus said...

When our boys were young I did try to show them Classics both new and old. Through some odd alchemy they got mixed up, and The Three Stooges plus The Wrong Trousers got the formed dubbed "The Wrong Stooges". Or maybe they were just already extra bright and knew that the Stooges were never the same once they started swapping in lesser talents. (with apologies to Shemp who was maybe 85% as talented as Curly)

Bob Boyd said...

Then I was deep within the woods
When suddenly I spied them
I saw a pair of robotic shorts
With nobody inside them!

mezzrow said...

Ooh, Wensleydale! Recommend the version w/ cranberries with your Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks, Wallace! Yum!

Dave Begley said...

How much?

Bob Boyd said...

The effects are comparable to removing up to 22 pounds from a wearer’s weight

Caution! Do not take Ozempic while using these shorts. If you must take Ozempic while using shorts, wear a helmet!

mongo said...

It appears they are still in the testing stage, not yet on the market.

tommyesq said...

There is a company called Roam that makes a robotic ski-assist device - it is a set of large knee braces with pneumatic chambers that connect to a compressor in a backpack, and an AI system that controls the chambers to absorb shocks and take some of the weight of the skier off the knees.

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/snow-sports/roam-robotics-elevate-exoskeleton-skiing-future/

Bob Boyd said...

FYI, these shorts will get you disqualified from any officially sanctioned butt kicking contest if they catch you. The ABKA has already issued a notice that they will be checking.

wsw said...

#roboticmeninshorts

Saint Croix said...

I predict the medical purpose shorts will fall within a narrow short approval category like "at the beach" or "near the swimming pool."

Bob Boyd said...

I'm old enough to remember when edible panties were the cutting edge of underwear technology.

Iman said...

“Are those kinematics in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?”

MrsX said...

My kids loved “The Wrong Trousers” and all the Wallace and Gromit movies back in the day and so did I. Aardman Studios went on to do some big Disney-ish films but none was as delightful as these.

Aggie said...

Leave some room for extra balls !

Lazarus said...

I guess we have answers to the questions "Will robots have perversions?" and "Will AI be kinky?" When your robot underwear gets the data about what is happening in your shorts will it share it with each other AI pervs?

Skeptical Voter said...

Those robotic shorts are like a coach improving the way you walk. Sort of like the high school football coach who was always on your backside telling you to do better, run faster, hit harder.

Big Mike said...

I might look into them, provided I can wear them under my blue jeans. When the arthritis in my ankle and my bone spurs (which certain trolls think is a nothing medical problem) are hurting I unconsciously change my gait, which puts stress on the opposite hip and leads to bursitis in that joint. I wonder if this might help.

Ann Althouse said...

"And yet this post doesn't get the coveted "Men In Shorts" tag. SMH"

I blogged it because it was about shorts, and yet I actively denied it the "men is shorts" tag. For one thing, the person in the photograph at the link appears to be female. I have a "woman in shorts" tag, but still.

It didn't make sense. Look at the device. It doesn't appear to cover the part of the body that shorts would cover. It's got a section that goes around the waist and then stuff clamping around the legs.

I have some standards!

Ann Althouse said...

Who is this device for? If you really are so weak that you need this help, are you going to have the capacity to handle moving this fast? What about falling?

Ann Althouse said...

The old lady in the picture at the link — picture her moving along with a machine moving her legs. Maybe there's a speed limit of 2 miles an hour or something. But I'm still worried about grandma.

Derve Swanson said...

People who buy ebikes used the wonder if the artificial speed, faster than they could pedal under certain conditions, would make them crash and be out of control... It's the same idea here. Let the machine do the work, but you get the benefits of exercise, allegedly.

Derve Swanson said...

The device that records steps and promises longer life if you keep moving will be impressed by the self walking shorts and grant you a better bill of health. In their head, some people will think this makes them healthier... so they buy and consume more products. You know this game ann.

Derve Swanson said...

Can't they just hire an immigrant to exercise their bodies for them?

mikee said...

As I commented on the AI post, Rule 34 is going to apply to this tech, too. Be prepared to be apalled.

William said...

All my life, gravity has done nothing but give me a hard time. I'm a gravity survivor, but lately it's been making substantial gains. This looks like a primitive prototype, but I would welcome some kind of crash program to bring this idea to fruition. It's something Musk should look into.

Rusty said...

"Cheese, Gromet!"

John henry said...

Can't read the article but are these powered? If not they are not robotic or even robotic.

Ive tried ergo suits. These have spring powered components. If you squat to pick something up the spring absorb energy making the squat easier.

When you stand, the spring g help th t by releasing g energy.

They are pretty con, though I've only ever worn one for a few. Inutes

John Henry

John henry said...

Alice Coopers first album, in 72, had the vinyl disk wearing edible panties.

PM said...

Walking is freedom. If it works, it's wonderful.

Whiskeybum said...

I’m gonna skip over this incremental step and hold out for the full Iron Man suit.

Rabel said...

It assists moderately in bringing the thigh forward. This happens when the wearer initiates that forward step.

I don't see any speed concern.

mccullough said...

It’s better to help people develop the iliopsoas muscles. They are the strongest of the hip flexors. Stand in place, and practice lifting each foot up straight while keeping it flat of even with the toe side higher. This is called “perking the heel” off the floor. Baseball pitchers do this. It will help with strength and coordination of these muscles.

mccullough said...

“Peeling the heel”