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Exmovere Holdings is presenting a series of demonstrations of a self-balancing, hands free concept vehicle called the Chariot. The Chariot is a wearable, sensor-activated pod designed for use by amputees and others who have difficulty standing. The demonstrations are being held at Exmovere's McLean, Virginia headquarters from April 7th until April 10th.

Unlike other self-balancing vehicles, the Exmovere Chariot is controlled by subtle movements of the lower torso and hips. Sensors inside the cocoon-like shell of the vehicle predict the intended motion of the wearer. The Chariot requires no manual dexterity, minimal physical effort and allows wearers to closely approach and reach objects. The upright form of the Chariot allows its wearer to make direct eye contact with others. The Chariot is battery powered and can travel up to 12 miles per hour.

Source: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090407005848&newsLang=en

Rockets can help power robotic arms, which could help lead to "better, stronger, faster" bionic limbs, research now reveals.

A new prototype rocket-powered mechanical arm can lift about 20 to 25 pounds—three to four times more than current commercial prosthetic arms—and can do so three to four times faster.
"Our design does not have superhuman strength or capability, but it is closer in terms of function and power to a human arm than any previous prosthetic device that is self-powered and weighs about the same as a natural arm," said researcher Michael Goldfarb, a roboticist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

"It has about 10 times as much power as other [robotic] arms," Goldfarb said.
The rocket-powered arm also has greater dexterity and freedom of movement than any other prosthetic to date. Conventional prosthetic arms have only two joints, at the elbow and the "claw." This prototype functions more naturally than previous models, with a wrist that can twist and bend, and fingers that open and close independently.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/technology/070829_rocket_arm.html