Consumer-grade exoskeleton for walking assistance

[Travoli]

It still seems like a better product for injury rehab or seniors.

[rcjordan]

>with an e-bike, he gets out a lot more

A lot of these '1st World Nicetie$' have a real, substantive use in Assistive Care.  BUT methinks that most of those that need them for that purpose couldn't afford them.

[Travoli]

Related: Toyota walking wheelchair

https://www.designboom.com/technology/autonomous-wheelchair-foldable-tentacle-legs-climb-stairs-sit-toyota-japan-mobility-show-2025-10-29-2025/

Would you let this carry you up stairs?

[ergophobe]

1-3 stairs, definitely.

4+ stairs after extensive testing

THAT is incredible though. I have seen a couple of paralyzed people I know who need a lot of help with a single step. Having something that just solves the 1-3 step problem would be a game changer

[Rupert]

That is so cool. I see so many people trapped behind steps.

 Another key attribute it that the seat height can go up and down, making it easier to get on and off.

Brilliant.

[littleman]

Off topic a bit, but I have been riding an ebike instead of driving my car to work.  It is a short commute, but I go back and forth twice a day, about l3 miles driving and 8.5 miles on a bike due to some shortcuts and bike trails.

Having an electric bike feels like a cheat code.  I take just a few minutes longer than drive, not go door to door faster because I don't have to hunt for parking or walk the distance from my car.  It is actually less physical exertion than driving plus walking.

Back on topic:

I could imagine something like the above mobility robot, but adding some wheels for long distance efficiency as an incredibly useful tool for people with mobility issues.

[ergophobe]

I have a friend who takes the train to near work, then bikes up a huge hill for the last couple miles. He didn't want to drive, but also didn't want to lecture dripping in sweat. The e-0bike is allowed in the train and solves the problem.

I think all these use cases are great. What I just can't wrap my mind around is marketing them for sports performance. If I'm going to use an exoskeleton or an e-bike to improve my performance, why not a car?

[littleman]

>why not a car?

Environmental impact, cost of use and convenience for some.  In my case I bypass the struggle for parking on the street in an industrial area.  The ebike uses energy at an equivalent of 2000 mpg.  An exoskeleton will likely use more, but far less than a car.

[ergophobe]

LM, I was referring to the "sports performance" marketing angle, not the myriad excellent potential uses of these devices.

I 100% understand and understood your logic. Same as my friend - his whole family has taken a "no fly" pledge because of climate. The ebike saves CO2 and money. Makes perfect sense.

Also, my neighbor who after heart-valve replacement and bypass and pacemaker, simply doesn't have what it takes to bike the steep hills of our neighborhood. For him, the e-bike is a godsend that has dramatically increased how much he gets out of the house. Plus we are able to bike together (and he kicks my ass of course).

All that is great and I totally understand that a car is fundamentally different and worse in all those cases and I would have expected the marketing to based on those types of cases.

I was referring specifically to the marketing pitches for the Nike product and the exoskeleton that started off this thread. The first pitch seemed to be oriented at tech bros who want to "conquer" a mountain aided by an exoskeleton or some such macho nonsense, followed by the guy who used it to run a marathon. And the Nike one is also framed that way - run faster.

In other words, I'm baffled by the marketing strategy. I'm not even bothered if someone *wants* to run a marathon in an exoskeleton, but I think 99.99% of the people who want to "run" a marathon want to actually *run* a marathon.

I would expect a pitch to be about keeping up with friends or being able to hike with grandkids or something like that. But I guess the biggest overlap between people who love gadgets and people with a lot of disposable income is young males, not grandpas (who only have the disposable income, but tend to be more gadget-skeptical).

[ergophobe]

Now here's what I was expecting

https://x.com/kimmonismus/status/2000972607500304690

Man in wheel chair rolls up, is able to put on exoskeleton without help, then walks away without wheelchair.

[Travoli]

It's always fun to see these kind of progress videos. Still much work to do.