Museum of Science and Industry

On May 8, Englishwoman Claire Lomas finished the London Marathon. Oh, did I mention that since Claire was paralyzed from the chest down in a horse-riding accident five years ago, she only walked the whole thing in a bionic suit?

Claire’s tremendous accomplishment, which took a total of 16 days, was made possible by the ReWalk suit, a robotic exoskeleton that allows users to step forward by leaning with their torso. The ReWalk’s robotic legs help people with walking impairments stand, walk, and even ascend stairs. And while upright mobility is great for physical health, it's also important to our sense of self-esteem. Fantastic technologies like this remind me that through imagination and determination, we can overcome challenges that once may have seemed insurmountable.

[See some great advances in robotics that visited MSI during last month's National Robotics Week.]

Paralyzed Woman Completes Marathon in Bionic Suit After 16 Days 

Image: The Telegraph