Hirotada Ototake, a writer born without arms and legs who is best known for his 1998 memoir "No One's Perfect," has embarked on a project to develop electrically operated "robot" legs that will enable him and others like him to walk.
The 43-year-old Ototake, who writes about his challenge in a new book released on Friday, said he hopes to give hope to people who have lost their legs due to disabilities or accidents.
Recently in Tokyo, Ototake took another try at walking with the devices, which were developed by Sony Computer Science Laboratories Inc. Each one, including the shoe, weighs 5 kg. While attempting to keep his balance, he walked cautiously but twisted his face in exhaustion after finishing the exercise.