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News Release 15-031
Researchers improve efficiency of human walking
Unpowered exoskeleton developed by Carnegie Mellon and North Carolina State researchers helps individuals walk using less energy
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![men's legs with a passive-elastic ankle exoskeleton attached](/news/mmg/media/images/Studio_NCSU_1_f.jpg)
Walking with a passive-elastic ankle exoskeleton. An unpowered clutch engages a spring in parallel with the Achilles tendon when the foot is on the ground, offloading the calf muscles and making walking easier.
Credit: Stephen Thrift, North Carolina State University
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![animated gif showing a man walking in the park wearing a passive-elastic ankle exoskeleton](/news/mmg/media/images/Frick_08-animated_f.gif)
Walking with a passive-elastic ankle exoskeleton. An unpowered clutch engages a spring in parallel with the Achilles tendon when the foot is on the ground, offloading the calf muscles and making walking easier.
Credit: Steve Collins
Download the high-resolution GIF version of the image. (1.2 MB)
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![man walking on treadmill with a passive-elastic ankle exoskeleton attached](/news/mmg/media/images/treadmill_1_f_9fba37a8-a3b0-4e17-ad16-bea34645f779.jpg)
Walking with a passive-elastic ankle exoskeleton. An unpowered clutch engages a spring in parallel with the Achilles tendon when the foot is on the ground, offloading the calf muscles and making walking easier.
Credit: College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (8.9 MB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
![man climbing stairs with a passive-elastic ankle exoskeleton attached](/news/mmg/media/images/Indoors_3_f.jpg)
Walking with a passive-elastic ankle exoskeleton. An unpowered clutch engages a spring in parallel with the Achilles tendon when the foot is on the ground, offloading the calf muscles and making walking easier.
Credit: College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (8.0 MB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.
![Walking-assist clutch](/news/mmg/media/images/clutch_f_a6608497-60c0-4aaa-8120-d76a1f5d32c9.jpg)
An unpowered clutch engages a spring in parallel with the Achilles tendon when the foot is on the ground, offloading the calf muscles and making walking easier.
Credit: Steve Collins
Download the high-resolution JPG version of the image. (2.1 MB)
Use your mouse to right-click (Mac users may need to Ctrl-click) the link above and choose the option that will save the file or target to your computer.