Imagine attempting to purchase a car, and none of the metrics are standardized? Every vehicle has its own fuel mileage, range, safety rating, acceleration, and stopping numbers, which are not comparable with those of other cars. How would one make an intelligent decision on an expensive purchase?

Consumer exoskeletons are facing a similar problem today. Hypershell, a major leader in consumer-powered exoskeletons, has used its position to release a comprehensive white paper addressing this issue in exoskeleton technology.

The 10-page white paper is divided into four sections:

• Introduction: lessons from the past of exoskeleton technology and other products like hoverboards.
• A summary of the independent testing done by SGS – VO₂, heart rate, and EMG measurements for walking and cycling, conducted with 11 test participants.
• Safety & Compliance – A review of electrical and radio safety, materials, environmental and disposal requirements, and cybersecurity and data protection for the Hypershell system.
• Call to Action for industry-wide collaboration on reproducible metrics and reporting formatting.

Crucially, the white paper is not a standard in itself. Instead, it is a call to action for exoskeleton companies to take the next bold step toward creating a market ecosystem. It is for producers, distributors, and stakeholders to consider which testing framework they are comfortable with (an existing one, a modified one, or a new one).

To access the full white paper, please visit the Hypershell.Tech website here.

For long-time Exoskeleton Report readers, this matters because it connects the maturing world of industrial/occupational exoskeleton standards to the fast-growing consumer application segment. A shared testing and reporting framework would enable comparisons of powered exoskeletons, mobility-assist devices, and industrial wearables on a foundation stronger than marketing claims, helping safety professionals, clinicians, researchers, buyers, and even weekend hikers make evidence-based decisions. It also lays the groundwork for future alignment with formal standards bodies and certification programs, rather than leaving consumer exoskeletons in a gray zone between purely marketing material.

Disclosure: I am one of the authors of the white paper.

Find out more:

• Introducing the Consumer Exoskeleton Standards White Paper, Dec 8, 2025, Hypershell, link
• Hypershell Publishes First Consumer Exoskeleton Standards White Paper, Calling for Industry-Wide Transparency and Unified Testing Frameworks, Dec 8, 2025, PR Newswire, link