Exoskeletons and Wearable Robotics

Exoskeleton Report & Wearable Robotics Association
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Technology
  • Updated Biweekly

We have gone through a digital revolution and are now on the verge of a physical revolution. Join Borislav "Bobby" Marinov of the Exoskeleton Report and Prof. Thomas "Tom" Sugar of the Wearable Robotics Association as we explore a world of devices that can help you get things done faster and safer. We will cover occupational/industrial, medical, military, and consumer exoskeletons.For more information, visit:Exoskeleton Report: https://exoskeletonreport.com/Wearable Robotics Association: https://wearablerobotics.com/Support this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ExoskeletonReport

  1. 5d ago

    So you bought an exoskeleton, now what!?

    Topics: 0:00 Introduction: What Exoskeleton Owners Can Learn from E-Bikes 7:47 Battery Care, Charging, and Manufacturer Guidance 14:10 Flying with an Exoskeleton: Batteries, Packing, and Airport Travel 20:46 Cleaning, Washable Components, Straps, and Fit 29:09 Mechanical Checks, Water Resistance, Apps, and Firmware 38:43 Storage, Repairs, Accessories, and the Owner’s Checklist This episode is not meant to be a definitive guide, but a starting point for a conversation. With an electric bicycle, a person can reasonably understand what ownership involves: how to use it, maintain it, charge it, and store it. Tom and I tried to apply that same familiar approach to exoskeletons, exploring the everyday responsibilities and questions that come with owning one. We’d love to hear your experiences, questions, and anything you think we missed. Links: Hypershell — User Manuals and Downloads: https://hypershell.tech/en-us/pages/tutorials Hypershell — Support, Battery Care, Cleaning, and Troubleshooting: https://support.hypershell.tech/en-US/articles DNSYS — User Manuals and Video Tutorials: https://dnsys.ai/pages/tutorial VIGX — Frequently Asked Questions, Maintenance, and Replacement Parts: https://vigx.ai/pages/faq FAA PackSafe — Flying with Lithium Batteries: https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/lithium-batteries ASTM F3392 — Standard Practice for Exoskeleton Wearing, Care, and Maintenance Instructions: https://store.astm.org/f3392-20.html For device-specific instructions, consult your manufacturer’s current manual. Check your airline’s battery and baggage requirements before traveling. For more on exoskeletons, visit: Exoskeleton Report: https://exoskeletonreport.com Wearable Robotics Association: https://wearablerobotics.com Support the Exoskeleton Report on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ExoskeletonReport #exoskeletons  #WearableRobotics #ConsumerExoskeleton Support the show

    So you bought an exoskeleton, now what!?

  2. Sep 21

    22 years of Wearable Robotics with Dr. Tom Sugar Part 2

    In Episode 34 of the Robotics and Exoskeletons Podcast, Bobby Marinov continues his interview with longtime co-host Dr. Thomas “Tom” Sugar, exploring the projects that followed his early work on rehabilitation robots and powered prosthetic ankles. Part 2 follows experiments in running assistance and load carriage into occupational exoskeletons, personal cooling, and newer rehabilitation and arm-support projects. Throughout the conversation, Tom returns to the challenge of building devices that assist people while preserving their freedom to move. Topics: 0:00 Introduction and Part 1 Recap 4:55 The Running Jetpack, Pogo Suit, and AirLegs 23:02 ROLLE Load Support and HeSA Hip Assistance 33:49 WearRA, WearRAcon, and Personal Cooling 44:07 APEx: Lifting, Pushing, and Air Force Field Testing 54:53 New Projects: Elbow Rehabilitation, RISE, and Glovebox Arm Support Links: Watch Part 1 — Episode 33: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra06E77SeiA Dr. Thomas Sugar at Arizona State University: https://search.asu.edu/profile/227786 Human Machine Integration Lab: https://thomassugar.github.io/hmil/ SpringActive: https://springactive.com/ ASU’s look inside Tom Sugar’s lab and early wearable robotics projects: https://news.asu.edu/20151002-tom-sugar-exoskeletons-lab APEx — Air Force exoskeleton field testing: https://news.asu.edu/20210712-solutions-air-force-exoskeleton-heavy-lift-asu Exoskeleton Report’s original coverage of the first WearRAcon: https://exoskeletonreport.com/2016/02/wearracon16_day_1_report/ For more on exoskeletons, visit: Exoskeleton Report: https://exoskeletonreport.com Wearable Robotics Association: https://wearablerobotics.com Support the Exoskeleton Report on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ExoskeletonReport ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE CREDIT: This episode includes archival research demonstrations and excerpts from Good Morning America/ABC News and ABC15 Arizona. The excerpts are presented for commentary, educational discussion, and historical context concerning the projects discussed. The original footage remains the property of the respective rights holders. No ownership of third-party footage or endorsement by the broadcasters is claimed. AirLegs — “New ‘AirLegs’ technology helps troops stay one step ahead”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAky33f_Vvk ABC15 Arizona — “Exoskeleton being developed to prevent workplace injuries,” reported by Cameron Polom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvn5gGMs-Hs Support the show

    22 years of Wearable Robotics with Dr. Tom Sugar Part 2

  3. Sep 7

    Walking With Springs: 22 years of Wearable Robotics with Dr. Tom Sugar Part 1

    In Episode 33 of the Robotics and Exoskeletons Podcast, Bobby Marinov turns the interview toward longtime co-host and Arizona State University professor Dr. Thomas "Tom" Sugar for the first part of a career-spanning look at how his work evolved from automotive noise and vibration testing at Saturn and product-development work at W. L. Gore & Associates into compliant wearable robots. Tom revisits his earliest parallel pneumatic mechanisms, spring-based actuation and phase-control ideas, and the formative years of ASU’s Human Machine Integration Lab. The conversation follows the Crutch Cast, the RUPERT upper-limb rehabilitation exoskeleton, the SPARKy powered prosthetic ankle, Air Legs, and SpringActive’s Joint Torque Augmentation Robot (JTAR), including its connection to DARPA’s Warrior Web program. Along the way, Tom explains why compliance, user agency, precisely timed assistance, and allowing the robot to “get out of the way” remain central challenges in wearable robotics. This is Part 1 of the story, ending well before the later chapters of his career. Topics: 0:00 Introduction – Who Is Dr. Thomas Sugar? 1:30 From Saturn and GORE-TEX to His First Robots and Patent 13:30 Springs, Compliance, and the Early ASU Lab 26:17 Early Orthoses, the Crutch Cast, and RUPERT 37:05 SPARKy and Powered Prosthetic Ankles 48:26 SpringActive, Air Legs, JTAR, and DARPA Warrior Web Links: Dr. Thomas Sugar at Arizona State University: https://search.asu.edu/profile/227786 Human Machine Integration Lab: https://thomassugar.github.io/hmil/ SpringActive: https://springactive.com/ DARPA Warrior Web: https://www.darpa.mil/research/programs/warrior-web For more on exoskeletons, visit: Exoskeleton Report: https://exoskeletonreport.com Wearable Robotics Association: https://wearablerobotics.com Support the Exoskeleton Report on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ExoskeletonReport Support the show

    Walking With Springs: 22 years of Wearable Robotics with Dr. Tom Sugar Part 1

  4. Aug 31

    Episode 32: Where Are the WearRA Innovation Challenge Winners Now?

    Ten years after the first Wearable Robotics Innovation Challenge, we take a look at what has happened to the competition's winners and runners-up:  In Episode 32 of the Robotics and Exoskeletons Podcast, Professor Thomas Sugar and Bobby Marinov revisit the seven WearRA Innovation Challenges held from 2016 through 2022 and ask what became of the memorable ideas. We trace projects ranging from HART Lab’s human-modeling work and EduExo’s educational kit to the Compact X-scissors shoulder mechanism, JAPET’s Atlas back-support system, soft robotic orthotics, adaptive casts, and a smart insole for diabetic-foot monitoring. Along the way, we share which projects became products or companies, and which continued as influential research. Topics: 0:00 Introduction – Where Are the Winners Now? 2:36 How the WearRA Innovation Challenge Worked 4:39 2016 – HART Lab, Standards, and Early Concepts 9:35 2017 – EduExo’s Path from Prototype to Product 15:01 2018 – Compact X-scissors and Liftya 21:54 2019 – JAPET Atlas and the Biggest Challenge Yet 27:03 2020 – A Virtual Challenge and Soft Robotic Orthotics 29:25 2021 – VR Exoskeletons and Exo360 33:45 2022 – Smart Insoles and Diabetic Foot Monitoring 41:41 The End of the Original Innovation Challenge 48:06 Thanking the People Behind the Challenge 52:35 Outro Links: For more on exoskeletons, visit: Exoskeleton Report: http://exoskeletonreport.com Wearable Robotics Association: https://wearablerobotics.com If you like this work, please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ExoskeletonReport Support the show

    Episode 32: Where Are the WearRA Innovation Challenge Winners Now?

  5. Aug 18

    Episode 31 - From Superpowers to Systems: Exoskeleton Books for Every Level

    In Episode 31 of the Exoskeletons and Wearable Robotics Podcast, Bobby Marinov and Dr. Tom Sugar explore the growing library of books on exoskeletons, wearable robotics, and biomechatronics. From newly updated engineering textbooks and influential classics to accessible STEM books for younger readers and the hands-on EduExo Pro handbook, we discuss what each publication offers, who it is intended for, and how today’s resources can guide learners from their first introduction to wearable technology to advanced research and development. Chapter Markers: 00:00 Welcome: Why an Episode About Exoskeleton Books? + Patreon Supporters and Community Thanks 01:52 Wearable Exoskeleton Systems, 2nd Edition: What Changed? 08:29 The Gold Standard: José Pons’ Wearable Robots 12:45 Wearable Robotics: Systems and Applications 17:16 Biomechatronics and Human–Robot Integration 20:10 Superpower? — Wearable Technology for Young Readers 23:06 Building Homes for All — Exoskeletons and Future Construction 24:20 A Candid Review of Another Exoskeleton Book 25:27 EduExo Pro - Learning Exoskeletons by Building One 27:27 A Reading Path from Middle School to Graduate Research + How Exoskeleton Publishing Has Evolved Links: For more on exoskeletons, visit: Exoskeleton Report: http://exoskeletonreport.com Wearable Robotics Association: https://wearablerobotics.com If you like this work, please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ExoskeletonReport Support the show

    Episode 31 - From Superpowers to Systems: Exoskeleton Books for Every Level

  6. Jul 13

    Episode 30:21 Exoskeleton Producers at CES 2026: What I Saw, Tried, and Learned

    CES 2026 in Las Vegas is the busiest consumer electronics show, and this time, consumer exoskeletons and similar technology had a larger presence than ever. I counted 21 booths with relevant products and did my best to personally try on the devices and talk to as many representatives as possible. In Episode 30 of the Exoskeletons and Wearable Robotics podcast, Dr. Tom Sugar and I discuss what I saw at the trade fair, while he adds information from the producer’s website. Join me at my very first CES as I explore the halls in search of as many exoskeleton products as I can. (This episode was originally published to paid Patreon Supporters. If you want to have early access to this podcast, please sign up for the Exoskeleton Report Patreon Membership. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to CES 2026 Las Vegas & Patreon Supporters 01:30 Hyundai X-ble 03:50 Hypershell 07:05 ULS Robotics 10:17 Xtand 13:58 Kenqing 18:57 WithForce 21:32 YRobot 24:35 Ocalis 26:36 Dephy 30:52 Sumbu 32:26 ATDev & Agade  35:33 Dnsys 39:59 Cosmo Robotics 42:59 Ascentiz 45:43 Seeppo 47:12 SKIP, Heimgear, Darwing 51:58 German Bionic & Outro Companies that we missed? Houston Bionics for one. Do you know of other exoskeleton or exo-adjacent companies that were at CES 2026 and didn't make it in this episode? Support the show

    Episode 30:21 Exoskeleton Producers at CES 2026: What I Saw, Tried, and Learned

  7. Jun 23

    Episode 29: WearRAcon Europe 2025, Big Booths, Big Energy, and ExoPark at A+A

    In this episode, Bobby Marinov from Exoskeleton Report and Dr. Tom Sugar from the Wearable Robotics Association recap their November trip to Germany for WearRAcon Europe 2025, A+A Düsseldorf, ExoPark, and the ExoWorkAthlon. They discuss the scale of the world’s leading safety trade fair, the growing momentum behind occupational exoskeletons, standout presentations from the conference, hands-on demonstrations, emerging evaluation tools, and the energy around the exoskeleton industry as it continues moving toward wider workplace adoption. Topics: 00:00 Introduction and Germany trip overview 01:35 Arrival in Düsseldorf and WearRAcon Europe 2025 setup 02:07 A+A Düsseldorf, ExoPark, and the scale of the event 07:13 WearRAcon Europe 2025 talks, research, and evaluation tools 24:28 ExoWorkathlon and hands-on exoskeleton demonstrations 38:11 A+A trade fair reflections and industry momentum Links: For more on exoskeletons, visit: Exoskeleton Report: http://exoskeletonreport.com Wearable Robotics Association: https://wearablerobotics.com TikTok Videos from A+A 2025: https://www.tiktok.com/@exoskeletonreport A+A Article by Hyundai: https://www.hyundaimotorgroup.com/en/story/CONT0000000000196927 3 Keys to Mainstreaming Exoskeletons in the Next Five Years: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDoksEYHGbA&t If you like this work, please support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ExoskeletonReport Support the show

    Episode 29: WearRAcon Europe 2025, Big Booths, Big Energy, and ExoPark at A+A

  8. May 11

    Episode 28: Not a Sales Pitch An Exoskeleton Engineer Puts Consumer Exos to the Test

    Powered exoskeletons for under $1,000 are finally here - but are they useful technology, expensive toys, clever gimmicks, or something in between? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Tom Sugar after a day and a half of hands-on testing with several consumer hip exoskeletons, including the Hypershell base model, the Dnsys Pro, and the Hypershell Ultra. Tom is not just a curious first-time user; he is a wearable robotics researcher and engineer who has built multiple powered exoskeletons and prosthetic systems himself. We talk through the full experience: putting the devices on, acclimating over thousands of steps, testing them on ramps, stairs, an incline treadmill, and a bike, and then comparing what we felt against Tom’s own engineering background. My hope is that this episode gives listeners a more realistic sense of what consumer exoskeletons can do right now, what they cannot do yet, and why they may be evolving into “e-bikes for your legs” -  a tool that does not replace exercise, but helps people move farther, climb more, and stay active. Topic Markers: 00:00 Intro and why this test is different 01:59 Fast onboarding and first impressions 04:01 Acclimation and the 7,000-step outdoor walk 06:23 Incline treadmill, heart-rate checks, and cycling tests 10:37 Tom’s engineering perspective on consumer exoskeletons 16:47 Fit, feel, features, limitations, and best use cases 31:12 “E-bikes for your legs,” 2026 predictions, and wrap-up 🔗 Learn more: https://exoskeletonreport.com & 💌 Subscribe to the Weekly Newsletter Wearable Robotics: https://wearablerobotics.com Support the Podcast on Patreon  https://www.patreon.com/c/exoskeletonreport/membership Support the show

    Episode 28: Not a Sales Pitch An Exoskeleton Engineer Puts Consumer Exos to the Test
See All (35)

About

We have gone through a digital revolution and are now on the verge of a physical revolution. Join Borislav "Bobby" Marinov of the Exoskeleton Report and Prof. Thomas "Tom" Sugar of the Wearable Robotics Association as we explore a world of devices that can help you get things done faster and safer. We will cover occupational/industrial, medical, military, and consumer exoskeletons.For more information, visit:Exoskeleton Report: https://exoskeletonreport.com/Wearable Robotics Association: https://wearablerobotics.com/Support this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ExoskeletonReport

Information

  • Creator
    Exoskeleton Report & Wearable Robotics Association
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Exoskeletons and Wearable Robotics
  • Show Website
    Exoskeletons and Wearable Robotics