Robot strength to help quadriplegic reach peak

A JAPANESE quadriplegic plans to ascend the peak of a Swiss mountain by riding piggyback on a mountaineer who will get some extra muscle from a robot suit.

Seiji Uchida, 43, will take a cable car to get within striking distance of the Breithorn mountain's summit before attempting the day-long trek this August, said Shinichiro Saigo, business manager of the With Dreams organisation that Mr Uchida founded to support the expedition.

Mr Uchida left paralysed from the neck down after suffering a spinal cord injury in a 1983 traffic accident will make the final ascent to the 13,741ft peak with the help of alpinist Ken Noguchi, 33, who will carry Mr Uchida on his back with the aid of a robot known as HAL.