Powered Exoskeleton - Current Exoskeletons

Current Exoskeletons

• Sarcos/Raytheon XOS Exoskeleton arms/legs. For use in the military and to "replace the wheelchair," weighs 68 kg (150 lb) and allows the wearer to lift 90 kg (200 lb) with little or no effort. Recently, the XOS 2 was unveiled, which featured more fluid movement, increase in power output and decrease in power input.
• Ekso Bionics/Lockheed Martin HULC (Human Universal Load Carrier) legs, the primary competitor to Sarcos/Raytheon. Weighs 24 kg (53 lb) and allows the user to carry up to 91 kg (200 lb) on a backpack attached to the exoskeleton independent of the user.
• Cyberdyne's HAL 5 arms/legs. Allows the wearer to lift 10 times as much as they normally could.
• Honda Exoskeleton Legs. Weighs 6.5 kg (14 lb) and features a seat for the wearer.
• M.I.T. Media Lab's Biomechatronics Group legs. Weighs 11.7 kg (26 lb).
• Rex Bionics' Rex, Robotic Exoskeleton Legs. Weighs 38 kg (84 lb). Enables wheelchair users to stand up, walk, move sideways, turn around, go up and down steps as well as walk on flat hard surfaces including ramps and slopes. It is the only exoskeleton to be sold for personal use instead of renting like HAL exoskeleton or testing. It costs 150,000 NZD (based in New Zealand) and international sales started 2011; the price is expected to drop once demand increases. The FDA has yet to approve it for sale in the US as a personal device, though it is available to rehabilitation centres.
• Activelink Co Ltd's PowerLoader Robot. Currently with its PLL (PowerLoader Light) version. Uses Mechanical Feedback and Force Sensors to power the user's legs motion.
• Argo Medical Technologies ReWalk The ReWalk has two versions, ReWalk "I" for institutions to use for research or for ReWalking therapy. It is designed for use under the supervision of a healthcare professional, like a physical therapist. Many health benefits have been reported for paraplegics who stand erect, and in robotic devices that mechanically move their legs. These benefits and more are expected when a patient is ReWalking. The other version is the ReWalk "P" personal unit. The ReWalk P is intended for personal use by patients at home or in the community. The ReWalk I is now available for sale to rehab centers in Europe and USA. It is listed with the FDA. The ReWalk P has been submitted to the FDA, and clearance is pending. The ReWalk P is CE marked, and can be sold in Europe when it becomes available, which is expected in 2012. The ReWalk P will not be available for sale in the US until it is cleared by the FDA. There are several sites in the US that have, and will soon have the ReWalk I.