Human Robotics & the ihmc QUIX Exoskeleton with Mark Daniel

I began my exoskeleton pilot certification in 2007 at the age of 18. In 2010, I was introduced to the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) where a team of engineers and computer scientists had developed MINA, their first paraplegic mobility device or exoskeleton. Over the last decade, we have worked together to develop hardware capable of mimicking the human gate and necessary software to drive it. We are currently weeks away from testing our 4th iteration exoskeleton, QUIX, as a part of our participation in Toyota's Mobility Unlimited Challenge after we compete in the 2020 Cybathlon later this year. It has been an honor to witness the advances in technology and evolution of handicap sports. In response to witnessing these miraculous achievements, I have spent the past 13 years of my life pushing the limits of the wheelchair that certified me for this opportunity. What I thought would ruin my life has given me more than I ever could have earned on my own two feet. Mark Daniel, Pilot Designer, evaluator, and user representative, Mark was born and raised in Pensacola. As a young adult, he graduated high school early and pursued a career in ironwork. First going to trade school for diesel mechanics, then learning how to weld and fabricate. In 2007, at eighteen years old, Mark started his career and began planning his next steps. Working long hours in risky conditions was exciting at first, but after five months the work took its toll. He fell asleep driving home, flipping his SUV several times, and awoke in the ICU of a local hospital. After learning of his paralysis, he set out to regain his independence. In 2010 Mark evaluated IHMC's first iteration exoskeleton, and again in 2013 for the second. In February 2016 he rejoined the team as a research intern to evaluate the third iteration and prepare for the Cybathlon. Mark placed second in the Cybathlon, winning the silver medal. Since the Cybathlon he has taken on the American Discovery Trail, which covers 4,834 miles from the Atlantic coast in Delaware to the Pacific in San Francisco. --- http://helpquix.org https://www.ihmc.us https://helpquix.org/our-pilot    / @ihmc-research      / theihmc      / drcihmcrobotics   --- Please note, our podcast show format is co-hosts and open-conversational. That means this is not a boring and overly-structured Q&A-style podcast. Thanks for tuning in! I'm here to help FUEL your Health, Business, and Lifestyle with new video content weekly. We're hoping to inspire you to LIVETHEFUEL! Visit http://LIVETHEFUEL.com Follow @LIVETHEFUEL on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Subscribe and Listen to our Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more! Please submit your iTunes Review of our Podcast Show. Thanks for tuning in and remember... "YOU TOO CAN LIVETHEFUEL!!!" #FUELUP #LIVETHEFUEL