] That’s good
There was an influencer getting excited in a Chinese city recently. He was testing lightweight artificial-intelligence exoskeleton walking aids. They don’t just put a spring in your step – apparently, according to the influencer, they learn what you need and help you achieve it. That caught my attention.
He was doing his ‘look at me’ video influencer stuff, walking, running, turning the kit up to full power and squawking with enthusiasm. It was entertaining and educational to see how technology is finding ways to be attractive and useful in everyday situations.
It gave me a few dreams of getting back to wild mountain hiking before wondering what this off-the-shelf technology is offering in the real world. Even a quick Google search threw up many examples across the written word, reels, and YouTube videos. The walking equivalent of the electric bike is here and now.
Before we get into the fun stuff, science as everyday magic, let’s take a quick look at the seriously impressive development of AI exoskeletons to meet medical needs. Here, AI augmentation is seen as a vital asset for hip-exoskeleton assistance because models without AI have serious problems of calibration – sort of one size fits none.
When AI models are fully developed and scaled for widespread use, they will learn from patient motion data points across joints, muscles and skin to respond instantly and even anticipate the assistance needed.
This expansion is already happening with the medical market for these devices forecast to grow to around $2.27bn (£1.7bn) worldwide in the next seven years.
What about those of us who do not have a real medical need but would like to use exoskeleton devices for restoring or increasing our physical possibilities? You can read some really interesting claims on manufacturers’ websites – see links at the end of this post – but we need to look, too, at the cracks between hypes, hopes, and real life.
Considerations come down to the person, the needs, the risks, and the availability of cash to buy the kit – what for some would be a fantastic life plus, for others it could bea waste of money and even a risk.
- Fairly fit people who want to extend their recreational activities: this is entirely possible now with a variety of mobility enhancers. Hypershell Tech offers a number of options with tempting photos of fit people on bikes and hiking. Cost, £1,249 ($1,662) upwards without extras. Some models said to last all day – sounds good; I might last out too with that kind of help.
- Workers and specialist users: this is being offered now by German Bionic, which has developed exoskeleton support for workers while, everywhere, robots are being developed to replace humans. “Our robotic exoskeletons don’t replace humans, but actively and effectively support their strengths such as flexibility, creativity and intuition, making work safer, healthier and more productive,” says Armin G. Schmidt, founder and CEO of German Bionic.
- Those with mild or moderate mobility loss: consumer-grade exoskeletons could work in a limited fashion for short walks and perhaps for in-home mobility. The problems here include training, the risk of falling, and the cost of the equipment. Exoskeletons cannot replace mobility scooters and vehicles but it may be possible to combine the two – for example, use the vehicle to the shopping centre and then benefit from the exoskeleton to walk.
There can be little doubt that exoskeleton mobility enhancers will continue to improve – that’s the nature of our world; think ear trumpets to cheap or free digital hearing aids – and perhaps one day we will all have the safe option to use them.
At the moment, I think I’ll walk to the coffee shop and leave my wild mountain hiking dreams with my memories. What about you?
Further reading and viewing: German Bionic, Hypershell Tech, AI for Good
Last thought Where do exoskeletons fit in with the development of robotics? Will humans be able to compete as semi-robots in the workplace? Will military forces find them useful to give extra power to their troops or special units? Will exoskeletons lengthen the sporting lives of hikers and bikers (already migrating to electric bikes)? Will an average mountain climber being powered to the top of Everest? And what of the more mundane possibilities? Will it help me to get to the pub before closing time?