Recently I came across an interesting video that featured HAL, and its inventor and lead scientist Yoshiyuki Sankai. HAL stands for “Hybrid Assistive Limb,” which is a robotic exoskeleton—an armor-like suit that one wears. HAL boosts the strength of the person who wears it by about 80 percent, allowing the wearer to do certain tasks beyond his capability. What is fascinating is that HAL is controlled by electrical signals from the wearer’s brain. For instance, one simply thinks about getting up and walking, and HAL performs the task then sends a signal back to the brain to “report” what task is performed.
Already the technology is being used in some medical facilities in Japan to improve the mobility of the elderly and disabled. It is uplifting to watch a person with weak or paralyzed legs, perhaps as a result of some injury, to once again get up and actually walk with the assistance of HAL.
But what is inspiring is that Professor Sankai has given himself wholeheartedly to the mission of finding a way to use robotics and cybernetics for the good of humankind. It took him about three years, leading a team of researchers, to study how the brain functions and communicates movement instructions to human limbs. Then it took another four years to figure out how to replicate that process with a robotic limb, and come up with the prototype of HAL. It now is in its fifth version, finally having real life applications after more than 20 years since the project first started.
Sankai has refused offers to harness his technology for military purposes. He operates from the perspective that the purpose of his technology is to help people, not hurt people. And that is what he has pursued for the past 20 years. He continues to stay true to the purpose of his mission, still working to develop the technology further. He is one whose devotion to his mission is matched by consistent action.
For us who serve the Lord of the universe, shouldn’t we do the same, perhaps even better? What is it that I pursue in life? And how dedicated am I in the pursuit of that which is truly worthwhile, pleasing to the Lord and benefitting not just myself but others as well? “So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another” (Romans 14:19 NET). “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11 HCSB). “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11 NIV).
—Keith Y. Jainga