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Ekso Bionics develop and manufacture intelligently powered exoskeleton bionic devices that can be strapped on as wearable robots, and can enhance the strength, mobility, and endurance of soldiers and paraplegics. They are the original developers of HULC, now under military development by Lockheed Martin, and the current developers of Ekso (formerly eLEGS), which allows wheelchair users to stand and walk. Ekso was selected as WIRED magazine's number two "Most Significant Gadget of 2010", and was included in Time magazine's "50 Best Innovations of 2010". Ekso Bionics was also featured in Inc. Magazine as one of "5 Big Ideas for the Next 15 Years".

Background

The company was founded in 2005 under the name of Berkeley ExoWorks by Homayoon Kazerooni, Russ Angold and Nathan Harding, all members of the Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory at the University of California. Berkeley ExoWorks introduced ExoHiker and ExoClimber, both with a weight carrying capacity of 150 pounds.

In 2007 the company changed its name from Berkeley ExoWorks to Berkeley Bionics. Berkeley Bionics developed an untethered, hydraulically powered exoskeleton they called the Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC), and which could carry heavier loads than the previous models. The HULC system was announced publicly at the AUSA Winter Symposium on February 26, 2009 when an exclusive licensing agreement was reached with Lockheed Martin. Berkeley Bionics also debuted eLEGS, an intelligent, bionic exoskeleton that allows wheelchair users to stand and walk.

In 2011 Berkeley Bionics changed its name again, to its current name Ekso Bionics. It also changed the name of eLegs to Ekso.

Making a robot itself is difficult enough. To add that to the body and put it on like a pair of jeans is a whole other level

In 2012, Ekso suits received approval from the FDA for hospital use in the US, and received a CE marking from the E.U.. In addition, Ekso Bionics has began selling Ekso suits to rehabilitation centers in the US and Europe.

Products

ExoHiker

External videos
Berkeley Bionics Human Exoskeleton ExoHiker/ExoClimber, YouTube

ExoHiker was designed to help hikers carry heavy loads on their back, up to 150 pounds, over extended periods of time. Its design was completed by February 2005. The battery powered skeletal system is controlled with a handheld LCD display. It can be strapped on to the body of hiker between 5ft 4in and 6ft 2in in height, like a wearable robot. The skeleton is easy to put on and take off. Altogether, the ExoHiker weighs 31 pounds, and is almost silent. It can operate at an average speed of 2.5 mph for 42 miles with one 80 watt-hour lithium polymer battery weighing 1.2 pounds. With a small solar panel, its "mission time" can be unlimited.

ExoClimber

ExoClimber is an enhancement of ExoHiker that allows the wearer to ascend stairs and climb steep slopes. It weighs 50 pounds, and for each pound of lithium polymer battery, can assist a climber to ascend 600 feet vertically with a 150 pound load.

HULC

External videos
Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC) YouTube
Make Me Superhuman Part 1 of 3 National Geographic

In 2009 Berkeley Bionics unveiled HULC, which stands for Human Universal Load Carrier. HULC is a more sophisticated and capable development of the above projects. It can carry a 200-pound load, and reduces the metabolic energy needed by the wearer to perform a given task. "In this way the device can significantly increase the range and length of tasks the wearer can perform."

In particular, HULC has potential military uses, and in 2009 a licensing and development agreement was reached with Lockheed Martin.

HULC lends itself to augmentation with devices that can be mounted on the back of its exoskeleton. One such device, the Lift Assist Device, lets operators carry front loads as well as loads on their back. It also "allows single operators to safely lift heavy loads that currently require two or more people".

Ekso (or eLEGS)

External media
Images
eLegs during an evaluation
Video
Berkeley Bionics: Introducing eLEGS YouTube
Paralyzed student, Austin Whitney, walks at graduation YouTube

In 2010 Berkeley Bionics unveiled eLEGS, which stands for "Exoskeleton Lower Extremity Gait System". eLEGS is another hydraulically powered exoskeleton system, and allows paraplegics to stand and walk with crutches or a walker. The computer interface uses force and motion sensors to monitor the user's gestures and motion, and uses this information to intelligently interpret the intent of the user and translate it into appropriate action. Users can "put on and take off the device by themselves as well as walk, turn, sit down, and stand up unaided".

In 2011 eLEGS was renamed Ekso. Ekso weighs 45 pounds (20kg), has a maximum speed of 2 mph (3.2 kph) and a battery life of 6 hours. It is suitable for users weighing up to 220 pounds, who are between 5ft 2in and 6ft 4in tall and can transfer themselves from a wheelchair to a chair. It allows the user to "walk in a straight line, stand from a sitting position, stand for an extended period of time, and sit down from a standing position".

Ekso is currently undergoing further development and clinical trials in rehabilitation centers. It should become lighter and more adaptable, and by 2013 should be available for private use at a cost of about $100,000.

See also

• Cyberdyne
• Rehabilitation robotics
• ReWalk
• HAL (robot)

Notes

1. The 10 Most Significant Gadgets of 2010 WIRED, 29 December 2010.
2. The 50 Best Inventions of 2010 Time, 11 November 2010.
3. Meet the Makers of the Wearable Robot Inc. Magazine, 30 October 2012.
4. Timeline Ekso Bionics main web site. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
5. ^ Lab Report XVI Metropolis Magazine, 18 December 2011.
6. Bionic Exoskeleton, Meant For Military, Helping Paralyzed Walk
7. ExoHiker Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
8. ExoClimber Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
9. HULC Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
10. Lockheed Martin Unveils Exoskeleton Technology at AUSA Winter Symposium Lockheed Martin, 26 February 2009.
11. ULCTM with Lift Assist Device Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory, 2010.
12. eLEGS Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
13. ^ Exoskeleton Berkeley Bionics. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
14. Kessler Releases Video Progress of "Ekso" Exoskeleton Testing; Clinical Trial Begins Jan. 2012 DailyTech, 16 December 2011.
15. Exoskeleton helping disabled to walk United Press International, 6 January 2012.

Other references

• Robotic devices help paralyzed become more independent USA Today, 6 January 2012.
• Meet the Real Bionic Man Wall Street Journal, 22 October 2011.
• Walking Again, With Help From an Exoskeleton New York Times, 3 November 2011.
• US researchers create suit that can enable paraplegics to walk The Engineer, 25 October 2011.
• Johnson, Carolyn Y. With device’s aid, the paralyzed take steps anew The Boston Globe, 15 September 2011.
• Wearable robot puts paralysed legs through their paces" Wired UK, 17 January 2012.
• Strickland, Eliza (2012) "Good-bye, Wheelchair, Hello Exoskeleton" IEEE Spectrum, 49 (1): 30–32.

External links

• The next step in bionics CBS News, 9 October 2011.
• Wearable Robot Helps Paralyzed Detroit Firefighter Walk, Fox News, 6 January 2012.
• Making Strides 60 Minutes (Australian TV), 5 August 2011.
• Are Exoskeletons "Ableist"? Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, 28 January 2012.

• Companies established in 2005
• Mobility devices
• Robotic exoskeletons
• Robotics companies
• Companies based in Berkeley, California
• 2005 establishments in California