Not sure why this in particular does it for me but the thought that in my old age I'll be able to continue enjoying the outdoors with an Arc'Teryx branded exoskeleton that they might sell next to the hiking poles at REI really gives off some "holy crap I'm living in the future" energy.
milleramp 84 days ago [-]
Just rode demo e-mtn bike, it was amazing. Not ready to make the switch just yet, but for people whose choice is doing nothing or using these assistants it's great.
stronglikedan 83 days ago [-]
When you're ready to make the switch, I recommend converting your own with a Bafang mid-drive to avoid vendor lock-in. A lot of LBS's won't even touch pre-builts, and if you work on your own bike you can work on a conversion just as easily.
0xcafefood 84 days ago [-]
This is actually really cool. A device that will help take strain off people's legs while recovering from an injury, or let people stay active longer in life or longer throughout the day could have a huge impact on society, if they can bring it to market at a price affordable enough for many people to have one.
jeltz 84 days ago [-]
Both for good and bad. For a leg to heal properly you need to put the right amount of strain on it. Not too little and not too much.
ghostpepper 83 days ago [-]
Maybe the robot-joint could be used as rehab to automatically put progressively more weight on the leg as it heals
orbital-decay 83 days ago [-]
This makes me think about a e-bike with a control system/transmission that helps you maintain constant output power for a workout, applying resistance or assistance as needed.
datameta 84 days ago [-]
Likewise joints that are repairing need to be utilized just enough so that blood and lymph circulation can bring nutrients and repair materials while carrying away by-products of repair thereby not letting it concentrate through sedentariness.
RandallBrown 84 days ago [-]
I wonder what the battery life is like.
Things like this will be awesome to get people out hiking more, but it could also get people into some trouble if it dies and they're too far away to make it out on their own.
generalizations 84 days ago [-]
> They cause the pants to balloon out when you look at them, almost like a crinoline dress on your legs. (Seeing photos of myself wearing MO/GO later, I’m actually surprised how subtle it looks on my body, because the sensation of wearing the bracers is comfortable, but by no means subtle.)
Notice there are zero front-facing images of what the exoskeleton looks like. This is very, very cool but I wonder if they'll need to refine the aesthetics further before they see widespread usage, even within their target market.
bwanab 84 days ago [-]
I'm in my 70s with two knees that have experienced the ravages of too much tennis and running. This looks like a godsend if it works!
apwell23 84 days ago [-]
curious have you tried compression pants with wires in them like stoko.
bwanab 84 days ago [-]
No, but looks interesting. Thanks for the pointer.
folli 83 days ago [-]
Maybe it's my age, but I'll out myself as luddite.
Please don't. I'm already seeing how e-bikes brought multitudes of people to places that were 10 years ago empty and peaceful as they used to require effort to reach. Now e-legs will be bring people were e-bikes couldn't reach yet...
nullstyle 83 days ago [-]
I have nothing but disdain for opinions like the above. Assistive technology is a boon, and anyone who gets out into the open and public spaces by way of these gadgets will benefit. If you want your solitude, get further out or buy some space for yourself; public lands shouldn't be for the able-bodied alone.
pedalpete 83 days ago [-]
Being from Whistler, this was a contentious point of view. However, the outdoors are to be enjoyed by everyone.
The danger is that assisted bikes (and possibly legs) can get people far enough out in the wilderness, that a dead battery can lead them into significant trouble.
Sure, this can happen without the assistance, but it's more difficult to get out of your depths.
Looking forward to walking to the corner store in my Arc'teryx x Kith exoskeleton. Jokes aside, this is really cool. I hope I won't need one for a while, and look forward to the engineering improvements when I do need one.
A_D_E_P_T 84 days ago [-]
Interesting that Arc'Teryx is owned by Chinese conglomerate Anta Sports, yet chooses to partner with an American firm on this. It's interesting because China is way ahead in this particular field, and already dominates in civilian exoskeleton production.
At a glance, the style of exoskeleton favored by Chinese firms is a hip exoskeleton which assists in raising/swinging the leg, whereas the MO/GO is a knee exoskeleton which assists with straightening the leg and putting one's foot forward. From a metabolic cost perspective, the Chinese style is markedly superior in most scenarios save for climbing. Presumably the MO/GO is mountaineering oriented, whereas most of the hip exoskeletons are mobility oriented.
RandallBrown 84 days ago [-]
I'm guessing Skip approached them.
I also imagine that the Anta Sports ownership is far enough removed from day to day operations at Arc'teryx that they wouldn't even know this kind of thing was happening.
maxglute 84 days ago [-]
> mountaineering oriented
One would think hip designs be integrated to lighten backpack load.
From article:
>We heard a lot from people who felt self-conscious, who didn’t want a brace or walking stick but loved hiking poles and things that looked like [outdoor] gear
Rule of cool. It does look very cool though.
islaydog 84 days ago [-]
Maybe also for people specifically with knee pain? my parents complain about stairs the most, so a hip devices wouldn't be as good for them?
user568439 84 days ago [-]
A bit offtopic but does anyone know of an exoskeleton that offers full body support? My wife has Long Covid and she can walk 1 km at a very slow pace but further than that she must use a wheelchair.
I would love to find an exoskeleton for her but it has to be comfortable and able to support her back and neck since she can't cope with her own body standing for very long. I would be willing to spend a significant amount if it makes her life better.
apwell23 84 days ago [-]
Not quite what you are looking for but I use stoko for skiing
dual-use: allows your able-bodied infantry to carry even more (at least if part of that weight is comprised of sufficient batteries?)
maxglute 83 days ago [-]
Then you'd want a hip/back structures to help alleviate load which also helps with lugging around more batteries.
jandrese 84 days ago [-]
This seems like more of an edge case to me. You still have to hold the weight with your arms (even if assisted) and balance your center of mass. There is only a narrow range between where an able person doesn't really need the help and where the pallet jack/fork lift is a better solution. This is especially true when you consider what happens if you drop the item in question. There are certainly cases where a solution like this is perfect, but I think they'll be rather niche.
$4500 now, so we could see alternatives on the market by 2030 around the $500 mark (fingers crossed)
twalla 84 days ago [-]
If you frame this in the context of existing outdoor recreation equipment like skis and mountain bikes and then factor in something like FSA/HSA eligibility this is more attainable than I was initially expecting.
charlie0 83 days ago [-]
What does HSA/FSA have to do with mountain bikes? Are they eligible?
mikestew 83 days ago [-]
Generally speaking, exercise equipment is not eligible. However, one can get a “letter of necessity” from a doctor. I have no idea how hard that would be.
But I believe GP’s point was that if such a thing became eligible for HSA purchase, it would make it much more attainable.
sitkack 84 days ago [-]
Depending on how much fitment it requires, would be great for a rental. This isn't something that folks that need it for hiking would be using all the time.
Things like this will be awesome to get people out hiking more, but it could also get people into some trouble if it dies and they're too far away to make it out on their own.
Notice there are zero front-facing images of what the exoskeleton looks like. This is very, very cool but I wonder if they'll need to refine the aesthetics further before they see widespread usage, even within their target market.
Please don't. I'm already seeing how e-bikes brought multitudes of people to places that were 10 years ago empty and peaceful as they used to require effort to reach. Now e-legs will be bring people were e-bikes couldn't reach yet...
The danger is that assisted bikes (and possibly legs) can get people far enough out in the wilderness, that a dead battery can lead them into significant trouble.
Sure, this can happen without the assistance, but it's more difficult to get out of your depths.
This sort of Chinese product is starting to find its way to the West: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hypershell/one-horsepow...
...But there are a dozen firms in China that make similar products that are already commercially available, e.g.: https://www.kenqingkeji.com/product_details/14.html
At a glance, the style of exoskeleton favored by Chinese firms is a hip exoskeleton which assists in raising/swinging the leg, whereas the MO/GO is a knee exoskeleton which assists with straightening the leg and putting one's foot forward. From a metabolic cost perspective, the Chinese style is markedly superior in most scenarios save for climbing. Presumably the MO/GO is mountaineering oriented, whereas most of the hip exoskeletons are mobility oriented.
I also imagine that the Anta Sports ownership is far enough removed from day to day operations at Arc'teryx that they wouldn't even know this kind of thing was happening.
One would think hip designs be integrated to lighten backpack load.
From article:
>We heard a lot from people who felt self-conscious, who didn’t want a brace or walking stick but loved hiking poles and things that looked like [outdoor] gear
Rule of cool. It does look very cool though.
I would love to find an exoskeleton for her but it has to be comfortable and able to support her back and neck since she can't cope with her own body standing for very long. I would be willing to spend a significant amount if it makes her life better.
https://stoko.com/
But I believe GP’s point was that if such a thing became eligible for HSA purchase, it would make it much more attainable.
high praise for something with no video :/