Soft Exosuits

Soft Exosuits

There’s already been a lot of work done to create powered exoskeletons to assist soldiers carrying heavy loads or even help people suffering from severe spine injuries to walk again. Many of these early efforts certainly look cool, but they’re bulky and very mechanistic—think of the fearsome contraptions shown in films like Edge of Tomorrow and Elysium. Early-stage development of “soft” exosuits promises something very different: a much subtler muscular enhancement system that could be worn unobtrusively. Researchers at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, recently awarded $2.9 million in funding from DARPA, aim to create a smart suit that can “be worn comfortably under clothing and could enable soldiers to walk longer distances, keep fatigue at bay, and minimize the risk of injury when carrying heavy loads.” Wyss researchers also say “[a]lternative versions of the suit could eventually assist those with limited mobility as well.”

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