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Spinoff story
Robotic Joints Support Horses and Humans
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
Cable-compliant joints developed at Goddard Space Flight Center provided the key elements in the NASA Equine Support Technology (N.E.S.T). The device supports a horse's weight with a special harness and controls the pelvis without restricting hip movement. The human version of the technology, released in 2003, is currently assisting U.S. service personnel rehabilitating from spinal cord or brain injuries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C. Enduro Medical Technologies, of South Windsor, Connecticut, expects the N.E.S.T to revolutionize treatment for horses with leg injuries.