Project Kairos / Exoskeletons explained
Exoskeletons explained
What is an exoskeleton?
A wearable exoskeleton is a light frame worn on the body, usually at the hips, knees or ankles, that adds a little support to natural movement. Powered exoskeletons use sensors and a small motor; passive ones use springs or elastic parts.
How a powered exoskeleton works
Every step follows the same three beats.
- SenseSensors read the rhythm of every step.
- AssistA motor adds gentle support at precisely the right moment.
- ReleaseThen it lets go. Your stride remains your own.
Where it is worn
Most wearable designs sit at one joint. A hip design typically has a waist belt, a motor at each hip, a flexible arm down each thigh and a thigh cuff, with a battery and control unit at the back. Knee and ankle designs follow the same idea closer to the ground.
What the research has found
“Since the early 2000s, researchers have been trying to develop lower-limb exoskeletons that augment human mobility…”Sawicki et al., review of the field, 2020
- 9% faster, 17% less energyA research ankle exoskeleton, after one hour of everyday walking outdoors. Its assistance was tuned as people walked, not on a treadmill.Slade, Kochenderfer, Delp & Collins, Nature, 2022 · Stanford Report
- 8% less energyA battery-powered ankle exoskeleton, worn while carrying a 23 kg load.Mooney, Rouse & Herr, MIT, 2014
- 23 studiesBy the end of 2019, 23 published studies had shown designs that reduce the energy it takes to walk or run.Sawicki et al., review of the field, 2020
Independent research and reporting, not a Kairos product.
Reporting on the field: Stanford Report, Oct 2022, IEEE Spectrum, Aug 2019 and Georgia Tech, Nov 2024.
From the laboratory to everyday life
For two decades, most exoskeletons lived in research labs and specialist settings. The technology has moved on, and wearables for everyday movement are now being made. Project Kairos exists to bring them out of the laboratory and into everyday life, beginning in Singapore.
Project Kairos is concerned only with wearables for everyday movement. They are not medical devices, and we make no medical claims.
Common questions
What is the difference between a powered and a passive exoskeleton?
A powered exoskeleton uses sensors, a small motor and a battery to add support at the right moment. A passive exoskeleton has no motor: it stores and returns energy through springs or elastic parts.
Where on the body is an exoskeleton worn?
Wearable exoskeletons are most often worn at the hips, knees or ankles, with a belt or cuffs that hold the frame close to the body.
Does a powered exoskeleton walk for you?
No. It senses the rhythm of each step, adds gentle support at precisely the right moment, then lets go. Your stride remains your own.
What has research found about exoskeletons?
In a 2022 Nature study, a research ankle exoskeleton made everyday walking 9% faster and used 17% less energy after one hour outdoors. By the end of 2019, 23 published studies had shown designs that reduce the energy it takes to walk or run.
Is an exoskeleton a medical device?
Some exoskeletons are designed for clinical use. Project Kairos is concerned only with wearables for everyday movement, which are not medical devices, and makes no medical claims.
More in questions about Project Kairos.