A new generation of lightweight exoskeletons will enable long-distance walkers, hikers and sports enthusiasts to improve their performance, supporting longer periods of physical activity with reduced fatigue for the wearer.

Exoskeletons are wearable mechanical structures designed to restore mobility or enhance the capabilities of the human body. Now a mature technology, they are usually used by people with reduced mobility, manual workers and the military.

A Chinese startup called Dnsys has decided to change the game by offering a new and potentially valuable aid to walkers, hikers and athletes.

Faster, higher, stronger

The Dnsys X1 stands out from other exoskeletons not only for its compact, lightweight design (less than 2 kg), but also for its artificial intelligence system and two operating modes. It is aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, sportspeople and hikers. The device promises to improve physical performance while reducing muscular fatigue. Depending on the configuration chosen, you can expect to run at up to 27 km/h and enjoy 14 hours of usage.

Artificial intelligence is at the heart of the device, which continuously detects and analyzes the user's walking pattern and adapts to it, offering optimal, personalized walking assistance. Algorithms then calculate the precise intentions of each movement to provide the most comfortable assistance possible, whatever the environment and activity: walking, running, hiking, climbing, going up and down stairs, etc.

The idea is to enable the user to walk or climb effortlessly, but also to run faster in a natural way. In all cases, it reduces muscular fatigue and even lightens the load on a backpack, if necessary.

Its designers estimate that the wearer can save up to 50% of their energy while walking, and thus walk up to 25 km in a day without tiring themselves out. In high-speed mode, the X1 delivers 1.2 horsepower, enabling the wearer to reach speeds of up to 27 km/h. There's also a training mode for warm-up exercises and muscle re-education.

The project is currently the subject of a crowdfunding campaign on the Kickstarter platform. The first deliveries are scheduled for summer 2024, starting at US$500 . Once marketed more conventionally, the X1’s price is expected to double.

 - AFP Relaxnews