15 Seconds, Hundreds of Robots Sold Out! Is the Exoskeleton Robot Industry About to Explode? | Robotics New Horizon
Last summer, after "Special Forces Tourism," this trend of "Homecoming Tourism" quietly emerged among young people.
"Homecoming Tourism" refers to experiencing travel pleasure with minimal physical effort, such as taking elevators to climb mountains, lying down for river rafting, and slowly descending for bungee jumping, etc.
In this context, cutting-edge technology has provided more possibilities for "Homecoming Tourism." This year, several scenic spots, including Mount Tai, Huangshan, Wugongshan, Emei Mountain, and the Great Wall of China, have introduced exoskeleton robot equipment. With the help of "wearable robots," tourists can conquer steep mountain roads with ease. This "mountain-mounted" technology has also brought exoskeleton robots from hospitals and elderly care institutions into mainstream consumer markets, accelerating their penetration into daily life.
This is not an accidental event, but a result of technological breakthroughs and scenario applications. After interviewing multiple sources, we found that over the past few years, artificial intelligence, flexible driving, lightweight materials, etc., have matured, driven by population aging, intelligent manufacturing, outdoor economy, etc. The exoskeleton robot industry is on the verge of an explosion.
Technical leap: From "Mechanical Iron Frame" to "Smart Muscle" Evolution
In the rehabilitation department of Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, a brain stroke patient is currently using an exoskeleton robot for physical therapy training. This device, like a "steel armor," not only provides support through mechanical structures and power systems but also uses intelligent algorithms to accurately control leg movement trajectories and joint angles, helping patients improve their gait.
This exoskeleton robot designed for medical rehabilitation was developed by Step Robot. In the early days, exoskeleton technology mainly applied to industrial fields overseas, while domestic companies that applied this technology to medical rehabilitation were few and far between. The traditional rehabilitation auxiliary devices lacked intelligence and had limited functionality.
Software level: Artificial Intelligence Advances
AI technology has permeated the entire process of training, assessment, and decision-making in Step Robot products. For example, based on clinical big data AI algorithms can assist in personalized training plan formulation; through multi-sensor perception, real-time adjustment of assistance intensity and speed can be made; combined with biomechanical models, quantitative evaluation of rehabilitation effectiveness can be achieved. These applications have improved the precision of rehabilitation training by over 30% and increased patient participation rates by over 50%
Scenario Explosion: From Medical Rehabilitation to Mass Consumption
2025 is expected to be the year when exoskeleton robots explode in consumption scenario applications. As early as this spring festival and Labor Day holiday, exoskeleton robot rental services appeared in scenic spots such as Mount Tai and Huangshan, with a single-time fee of around CNY100, attracting a large number of middle-aged and elderly tourists and mountain enthusiasts.
"The application scenarios of exoskeleton robots have expanded from medical and rehabilitation fields to outdoor and tourist areas, opening up new growth points for the industry." Chen Li, assistant researcher at Anbang Research Institute, said in an interview with Securities Times reporter.
This year, Chengte Technology launched a consumer-grade exoskeleton robot on e-commerce platforms, priced at CNY2,599, targeting individual users. The product went online within 15 seconds, and hundreds of units were sold out. According to reports, buyers included retired middle-aged and elderly people who love traveling as well as young people buying for their parents.
Zhang Jiayu, co-founder of Chengte Technology, told reporters that the company had initially focused on medical rehabilitation, mainly serving hospitals and elderly care institutions, so it was less visible in mainstream consumer markets. "As aging becomes more pronounced, there is a growing demand to use technology to improve the quality of life for seniors and enhance their self-care abilities." Zhang Jiayu said.
Open-source securities research report believes that exoskeleton robots have expanded from medical rehabilitation, military fields to industrial and consumer applications, expecting global market size to reach USD146.7 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 42.2%. Chen Li noted that the industry still faces challenges in terms of cost control, user experience optimization, and customization for different body types.
Challenge Remains: From Cost Control to Experience Optimization
As the exoskeleton robot industry opens up more consumer-level applications, optimizing its wearability experience, making it lighter, and increasing comfort are crucial tasks for the industry.