Exoskeletons: From Sci‑Fi Vision to Everyday Reality

Exoskeletons are wearable devices that augment or assist our movement and strength by providing mechanical support to the body. In movies we often see powered suits that give humans superhuman abilities, but real-life exoskeletons are usually more practical tools than flashy Iron Man armor. The concept has been around for decades: back in the 1960s, one of the first prototype exoskeletons (General Electric’s Hardiman suit) could multiply a person’s lifting strength 25-fold yet it weighed about 680 kg (1,500 lbs) and was far too bulky to use. Early attempts like that remained experimental and impractical. It wasn’t until recent years, with advances in materials and technology, that exoskeletons became lighter, smaller, and more task-focused, moving away from science fiction and into the real world. Today’s exoskeletons come in many forms – from full robotic suits to simple supportive frames – and they’re starting to make a real difference in how we work, heal, and even defend ourselves.

Applications of Exoskeletons

Exoskeletons are finding their way into a variety of fields. Industrial and occupational exoskeletons are being used on factory floors, construction sites, and warehouses to reduce the strain of physical work. For example, automotive manufacturers have equipped employees with shoulder-mounted exoskeletons that transfer the weight of the arms to the hips, making overhead assembly work less tiring. One major car company even made an upper-body exoskeleton a mandatory piece of safety gear for its weld shop workers – recognizing that supporting workers’ arms during overhead welding can help prevent injuries. By reducing muscle strain and fatigue, industrial exoskeletons can protect workers’ health and improve productivity. Many industries from automotive and aerospace manufacturing to logistics and agriculture are exploring these devices as part of their ergonomics and safety programs.

Source: Audi Workers Are Trying Out Exoskeletons In Germany

Healthcare and rehabilitation: In the medical field, exoskeleton technology is helping people regain mobility and strength. Medical exoskeletons (often powered, robotic suits) can enable a paralyzed person to stand up and walk, or assist stroke patients with guided exercise during therapy. Devices like ReWalk and Atalante X essentially wearable robotic legs have allowed some wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries to walk upright again. Therapists also use exoskeletons to support patients in rehab, for instance by providing consistent guided movement for rebuilding muscle strength or by reducing the physical effort therapists need to exert.

Source: Wandercraft Showcases First Self-Balancing Exoskeleton at 2024 Summer Olympic & Paralympic Torch Relay

Military and defense: The defense sector has long been interested in exoskeletons to enhance soldiers’ abilities. The idea is that a soldier wearing a powered exoskeleton could carry heavy gear more easily, march longer distances, or even gain augmented strength and endurance. While these prototypes demonstrated impressive strength amplification, they also faced challenges like cumbersome weight, limited battery life, and difficulty sensing the user’s intentions meaning none have yet become standard issue gear.

Skelex: Exoskeletons to Make Work Safer and Easier

While exoskeletons have many uses, Skelex’s focus is on helping working men and women in physically demanding jobs. Founded in 2013 in the Netherlands, Skelex has been a pioneer of the passive exoskeleton movement its flagship shoulder-support exoskeleton (the Skelex 360) has already been tested and evaluated by thousands of people world wide.

Importantly, Skelex designs are passive and purely mechanical, which keeps them light and user-friendly. The exoskeleton frames are made to fit a wide range of body types and to move naturally with your body bending, reaching, or lifting without restricting your freedom. They provide support where you need it while staying out of your way as much as possible. Developed through research at TU Delft and refined with over a decade of field testing, Skelex exoskeletons have proven their reliability in real workplaces.

Another key aspect is ease of use. A tool that is too complicated will just sit in the corner, so Skelex makes sure its exoskeletons are intuitive to use, quick to put on, and simple to integrate into daily workflows. There’s no need for lengthy training or calibration – workers can don the vest-like apparatus and get to work, feeling the assistive lift right away. By reducing fatigue and physical wear-and-tear, these exoskeletons help people work more safely and comfortably day after day.

In summary, exoskeletons have evolved from imaginative sci-fi concepts into practical tools that are starting to benefit real people. Whether it’s a factory worker installing heavy parts, a patient relearning to walk, or a technician spending hours with arms raised, these wearable support devices are lightening the load. Skelex is proud to be at the forefront of this movement in the industrial realm – creating exoskeletons that literally have your back (and shoulders!), so you can get the job done with less pain and fatigue.