Soft Exosuits, Harvard Biodesign Lab, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Targeting a specific set of applications where a wearer needs some partial assistance from a robot, Researchers from the Harvard Biodesign Lab are pursuing a new paradigm: the use of soft clothing-like "exosuits." An exosuit does not contain any rigid elements, so the wearer's bone structure must sustain all the compressive forces normally encountered by the body -- plus the forces generated by the exosuit. The suit, which is composed primarily of specially designed fabrics, can be significantly lighter than an exoskeleton since it does not contain a rigid structure. It also provides minimal restrictions to the wearer's motions, avoiding problems relating to joint misalignment. Ongoing work to optimize the suit design and make it portable is funded by DARPA's Warrior Web Program.

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Deep in the woods in Maryland, the U.S Army is testing exoskeletons that can lighten the load that soldiers carry. Read more:

"DARPA Tests Battery-Powered Exoskeletons on Real Soldiers"
Deep in the woods in Maryland, the U.S. Army is testing exoskeletons that can lighten the load that soldiers carry

by Evan Ackerman
September 22, 2015

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A lightweight textile exosuit reduces the energy needed to walk by nearly a quarter and could be used to assist elderly people or stop soldiers tiring.

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