Exoskeletons Will Never Happen: Here's Why

In the 2010s, the promises of exoskeletons were inescapable. Works of fiction envisioned the average individual having insane powers like that of Iron Man. But the reality of this technology significantly flopped. Failed military contracts, unrealistic prototypes, and sensationalized journalism all lead to the downfall of this once promising technology.

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[designedby]

Exoskeletons and exosuits don't have to make you a superhuman and they don't have to be full-body devices. Simple exo designed for specific tasks can simply reduce the weight on a workers shoulders for example and that in itself is valuable since it is reducing musculoskeletal injuries. As for the Chinese exo, they are not just plastic braces, they transfer the weight of their heavy backpacks to the ground and that is when heavy backpacks are the number 1 reason for injuries in the US army.

[thelelanatorlol]

Exoskeletons will absolutely happen. All that is required for exoskeleton technology to become sleek enough for the average person is advances in battery tech and advances in artificial muscles. The tech wasn't really there 10 years ago, but it's quickly reaching that point nowadays.

[williamparrish]

Things my dad told me would never happen (that I asked him could I learn to build as a kid)
1. Cellular phones
2. Mobile phones
3. Robots
4. Electric cars
5. Flying cars
6. Touch screens
7. Photo-realistic video games
8. VR

Please Sir, if you have kids, don't tell them what can't or won't be done! You will just limit their imaginations.

[justcrispy]

Currently in school for robotics engineering. Im working on a lightweight exoskeleton and so far its been able to improve lifting capacity by 15% and lower the effects of weight on the joints by close to 50%. Dont say never, people said theres no way a human can talk to another human from a different building before

[jokesonyou]

Bro, it doesn't need to be an iron man suit to be practical. Imagine lifting a full military kit and it just feels like your normal weight, that's what it'd be good for.

[Woopor]

Exoskeletons will definitely become a thing, but more for niche and specialized tasks than all-purpose supersoldiers.

[thegrimcritic]

To me, the realistic point of exosuits isn’t so much that they COMPLETELY enhance the physical abilities of humans, but that they reduce the amount of strain that physical activities have upon the human body and, as a result, frees up more of our energy to be exerted in other movements that we make. Consider this: You’re wearing an exosuit and carrying a tactical backpack that normally weighs, say, 150 lbs. Without gear, let’s say you weigh 200-ish pounds. That means the total amount of weight you’re casually moving around is at least 350 lbs., maybe more. However, with the exosuit, you’re walking around with the ease of someone wearing an extremely light backpack because it’s handling most of the strain in keeping your weight and balance in check. This as a result frees you up to spend more energy, say, keeping a good pace with mobility, being able to scale vertical obstacles that you’d otherwise not be able to, keep a steadier aim when using your firearm because less weight is straining your posture, strike someone with far greater force due to the fact that you’re leveraging your 350+ lbs. body with the speed and precision of someone weighing 120 less than you actually are, etc. At first glance, these benefits don’t seem superhuman, sure. But keep adding up all the things the exosuit is assisting you with, and you inevitably end up with someone who can perform strenuous and exhausting tasks with an ease that makes a world of difference when the chips are down.

[kenttheboomer]

The Hilti Exo-S, Comau Mate, OttoBock and others are non powered exos that help workers lift weight over their heads. They are currently in use now.

[themeanestkitten]

I still want one for work, i HATE not being able to lift anything "heavy" by myself.

"I don't need help, I need an exo-suit"

[kenjboyd]

Exoskeletons are already performing real life miracles, which cannot be disputed.

[mountainmover]

Exoskeletons that would be considered feasible for anyone that isn't already handicapped, need a frame that will support what the human frame cannot. You can't design an "exoskeleton" that would lift much more than a normally fit person can already lift. A design that would allow for this is no longer an exoskeleton, it's a walking mechanized vehicle, and the operator is just a rider exerting little of their own strength. There is definitely a market for exoskeletons that will strengthen our weaknesses, and enhance our endurance at certain tasks though. The older I get, the more I look forward to what will be available in the future to keep me active.

[drahunter]

I never expected them to be used in battle not for another 50 years or so when they are small enough and flexible enough and light enough with all the benefits intact but right now I expect them to be used as support like carrying large heavy things that normally require 2-6 people to carry into a 1 man job and that’s how I saw it used…carrying ammo and munitions and supply’s to the front lines and around bases to helipad refueling and al that lol why can’t they use them for that idk..

[Jairion]

So why not have exos that get their power from a cord, from a nearby vehicle? Whether it's combat, firefighting or police duty, being able to carry excessively heavy armor would help. From my perspective, I'd rather have that and let my teammates behind me deal with the cord. Alternatively, one man could carry (or even wheel) the battery that feeds the exo with a cord.

[Chrisspru]

a 3 hour charge exoskeleton is enough for military breaching operations (for the front doorkicker)

[stevederp]

Exoskeletons never focus on the actual weak points for human activity. Which is holding weight in awkward positions. While holding 50 lbs might not be difficult holding a wide piece of material that is 50 lbs puts the strain on the elbows which can not hold this position as we do not have the muscle mass necessary for this.

So a suit capable of being worn on the arms and back that can lock in place so that the weight load can be transferred from the elbows to the shoulders, back and forearms which can easily hold this weight.

Another example is that something that is able to be carried on the shoulder must be transferred from the ground. So a suit where the foot and leg can be locked into place so that the user can pivot the force with their arms onto their shoulder and put the load onto the locked leg instead of the back is another practical use.

Most of these suits don’t focus on the fact that most people have the strength to do these tasks but maneuvering our body to lift or hold the weight is often where we struggle or injure ourselves. This is why knee, shoulder and back injuries are so common. They are weak points in our body’s design that these exoskeletons can help us overcome with the proper engineering.

The suits don’t need to be powered or increase our strength. They simply need to have the ability to allow us to use the suit as a way to lock in certain positions and use leverage to transfer the weights load and stress onto the suit rather than our body.

Most of these suits get the knees right where it assists us in that weak point between squatting and standing. We are very comfortable in both positions but it is the in between that we usually struggle with. The same can be applied to our elbows and back. Our arms are strong but our elbows can’t hold the same level of stress. So the ability to lock them in place removes our most vulnerable area. A suit that has a system where we are forced to bend out of shape to move our back and then naturally drags us back to standing position could allow us to grab something by bending over and then letting the suit assist us in overcoming our weak point in between.

[czcgsrd]

Exoskeletons purpose are advenced strength but not mobilty and speed for obvious reasons. Add to that some thick armor plating and you have yourself a human-sized tank suit

[midgetman]

I do have a question though. Thinking about most uses besides hiking and marching (any long range and remote task), why is being tethered to an external power source such a bad thing?

Wouldn't most jobs have the skeletons and suits be confined to a general location anyways? Couldn't you just drag along a cart of sorts filled with batteries (or a generator) work if more independent maneuver is really necessary?

[TeeMee]

The biggest use case I can see other than prosthetic stuff is a bit of extra muscle inside homes and other buildings. You’ll have spare batteries or the mains supply at hand, and you’ll have no forklifts to compete with.

[travisgoonan]

I for one am not ready to give up on exoskeletons so easily. I believe that one day, they can be made and used in the battlefield.

[hallahgray]

I think you will see them, but all of the bugs will be worked out before they become common place. I also think initially you will see them in the manufacturing industry, as basically glorified back supports in braces, then rehabilitation tools in the health industry, and then the construction industry. Before they are adopted completely by the military and then only for elite units.