This Robot Suit Is Helping People Walk Again
level the playing field: to make a situation fair so that everyone has the same chance of success
A team of South Korean scientists has created a robot that could level the playing field for people who cannot walk. The WalkON Suit F1 is a lightweight robotic suit that helps users stand, walk, and climb stairs. The suit has motors that copy how human joints move and sensors that help the person stay balanced.
Scientist Kim Seung-hwan, who is paraplegic, is a member of the research team. He showed the robot’s abilities by climbing stairs and walking with it. Kim doesn’t need any help getting into the robotic suit. It can come to him and attach to his body effortlessly.
The team was inspired by the movie Iron Man. One designer, Park Jeong-su, said, “After watching Iron Man, I thought it would be great if I can help people with a robot in real life.”
Sample sentences
Free public libraries can level the playing field by giving everyone access to books and information.
The job fair aimed to level the playing field by offering free career training for all job seekers.
Providing free internet access in poor rural areas helps level the playing field for students who study online.
Origin
The expression comes from sports, where playing on uneven ground could give an advantage to one team over the other. Making the ground flat, or “level,” ensures both sides have an equal chance to win.
Read More:
South Korean team develops ‘Iron Man’ robot that helps paraplegics walk