Technological Resonance: Exoskeleton Robot Industry on the Verge of Breakout

After "Special Forces Tourism" and "Laziness Travel," this summer, "Weary Travel" has quietly gone viral among young people. What is meant by "Weary Travel"? It refers to experiencing travel pleasure with minimal physical exertion, such as taking elevators to climb mountains, lying flat for river drifting, or descending at a slow pace. In this context, technology has provided more possibilities for achieving "Weary Travel." This year, numerous scenic spots, including Mount Tai, Yellow Mountain, Wu Gong Mountain, Emei Mountain, and the Great Wall of China, have introduced exoskeleton robot devices. With the help of these robots, tourists can conquer steep mountain roads with ease.

This is not an accidental "out-of-the-box" event, but rather a result of technological breakthroughs and scenario applications. According to multiple interviews with reporters, in recent years, the maturity of core technologies such as artificial intelligence, flexible drives, and lightweight materials has driven the exoskeleton robot industry forward. With policy support, capital influx, and entrepreneurial innovation, this once-"crowd" technology is now poised for commercialization.

At Shenzhen's Second People's Hospital Rehabilitation Department, a patient with cerebral palsy is undergoing rehabilitation training using an exoskeleton robot. This device, like a "steel armor," not only provides support through mechanical structures and power systems but also uses intelligent algorithms to control the trajectory of leg movements and joint angles, helping to improve gait.

This exoskeleton robot for medical rehabilitation was developed by Mabot Robot. In the early days, exoskeleton technology primarily applied in industrial fields overseas, with few domestic companies applying it to medical rehabilitation. However, Chen Guang, founder and CEO of Mabot Robot, noticed the vast potential of this technology during his Ph.D. studies at Singapore's National University. He returned to China in 2016 and founded Mabot Robot, utilizing technologies such as flexible drives, multiple sensors, and biomechanical models to upgrade exoskeleton technology from "industrial" to "medical rehabilitation."

Exoskeleton robots are essentially devices that enhance or restore human motor abilities through mechanical structures and intelligent control. Over the past decade, its technology has undergone a profound transformation from rigid "mechanical iron frames" to flexible "smart muscles." This transformation includes two levels of technological leaps: hardware upgrades and software breakthroughs.

On the hardware side, exoskeleton robots were previously limited by battery life, motor power, and material technology. However, with the development of humanoid robot industries, joint motors, carbon fiber materials, and high-density batteries have achieved significant breakthroughs, laying a solid foundation for exoskeleton robots' comfort, portability, and practicality.

"The biggest change in our industry is that the upstream supply chain has become increasingly complete," says Zhang Jiayu, co-founder of Chengdu-based intelligent rehabilitation robot company, Pengtai Technology. "Companies specializing in robot sensors, motor drives, and other peripheral devices are more abundant." As a leading domestic smart rehabilitation and assistive robotics company, Pengtai Technology has focused on developing exoskeleton robots since its establishment in 2017. Its products cover medical rehabilitation, industrial assistance, and consumer-level health care.

In terms of software, artificial intelligence's progress has enabled the installation of "smart brains" on exoskeleton robots, accelerating their commercialization. For example, AI algorithms based on clinical data can assist in designing personalized training plans, adjusting assistance intensity and speed through multi-modal sensors, and quantifying evaluation results based on biomechanical models.

According to Pengtai Technology's Zhang Jiayu, the company has historically focused more on medical rehabilitation, primarily serving hospitals and senior care institutions. However, with the growing demand for aging populations to improve their quality of life and self-care abilities, exoskeleton robots are poised to meet this need.

A report by Open Research Institute predicts that the global market size for exoskeleton robots will reach $146.7 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 42.2%. Chen Guang notes that, in addition to medical rehabilitation and industrial assistance, consumer-level applications are also expected to be a major driver of this growth.

Despite the bright prospects, there are still challenges ahead for the exoskeleton robot industry. For example, professionals require further training to operate these devices effectively. In addition, there is a need to optimize the user experience by reducing the weight and improving the comfort of these robots.