That’s not a joke. Japanese company Cyberdyne announced a new human-worn robot suit that can assist movment:

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“Robot Suit HAL” is a cyborg-type robot that can supplement, expand or improve physical capability. When a person attempts to move, nerve signals are sent from the brain to the muscles via motoneurons, moving the musculoskeletal system as a consequence. At this moment, very weak biosignals can be detected on the surface of the skin. “HAL” catches these signals through a sensor attached on the skin of the wearer. Based on the signals obtained, the power unit is controlled to move the joint in unison with the wearer’s muscle movement, enabling HAL to support the wearer’s daily activities.

Yes, the robot suit from Cyberdyne is called HAL. Imagine these two things combined:

AND

Except, apparently, it’s meant to help cleanup at Fukushima, and also to help elderly people walk. So, dear reader, it’s up to you to decide whether to trust the new robot suit. Here at Kill Screen, we’ll be boning up on How to Survive a Robot Uprising and eyeing the office microsave suspiciously.

Here is the beast in action: