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Person-specific evaluation method for occupational exoskeletons – Biomechanical body heat map

Analysis: Proposes a repeatable, person-specific, threshold-based DHM + musculoskeletal modeling method (the “biomechanical body heat map”) to assess both intended and unintended whole-body effects of occupational exoskeletons, with an initial EMG reality check:

• Whole-body output: Introduces a “biomechanical body heat map” to summarize exoskeleton effects across the body, not just one joint or muscle group.
• Decision-friendly thresholds: Uses threshold rules to label changes as meaningfully beneficial vs potentially harmful, aiming for repeatable assessments (not just stats).
• Unintended effects: Explicitly looks for tradeoffs outside the target area (e.g., knee loading changes when unloading the back).
• Person-specific evaluation: Shows exo effects can vary by individual and argues for subject-specific modeling rather than one-size-fits-all conclusions.
• Two-level DHM workflow: Combines digital human modeling of a realistic logistics task with deeper musculoskeletal “exo-human” simulation for internal biomechanics.
• Preliminary validation: Adds an EMG reality check to see whether modeled assistance trends align with measured back-muscle activity (tested on four subjects).

HeroWear Launhes “Success Stories” Website Segment

Analysis: Initially it is divided into: Long-Term Injury Studies, Productivity and ROI Gains, Clients Who Deployed and Scaled Exosuits, Insurance Company Results, Military Sustainment & Logistics but is likely to grow as more information is added. It is not a full “Application Vault” but definitely a step towards it.

INAIL (Italy’s national workplace injury insurance and occupational safety research institute) has released a 2025 monograph—a stand-alone, in-depth technical report—on occupational exoskeletons. Written by INAIL researchers Massimo Ascanelli and Marco Nurchis, it’s aimed at employers and OSH professionals and focuses less on “how to deploy exoskeletons” and more on how to evaluate and manage health & safety risks when they’re used in real work tasks, including where traditional ergonomics assessment methods may not translate cleanly once an exoskeleton is involved.

Revenue decreased $5.1 million, or 29%, for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to the same period of 2024. The decrease in revenue was primarily driven by a decrease in the volume of Enterprise Health device sales in the EMEA region, partially offset by an increase in the volume of Personal Health device sales in the Americas region.

Global Innovation Challenge 2025: Results highlights (and where to watch the evaluation videos)

What happens when the rubber meets the road: How do medical walking assist exoskeletons perform tasks for everyday living in an apartment!? The Global Innovation Challenge is a (see-though) platform that rewards teams to do just that!

Portable hip exoskeleton improves walking economy for stroke survivors

Treadmill tests with 7 people with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis, their powered, portable, bilateral hip exoskeleton reduced net metabolic cost of walking by 18 ± 2% (p = 0.0002) versus walking without the device, and every participant showed a reduction.

CMS has issued a 6-month nationwide moratorium on new Medicare enrollments for several “medical supply company” Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) supplier types (including prosthetics/orthotics-related supplier categories).For medical exoskeletons (e.g., ReWalk, MyoPro), this is not a coverage change, but it could slow expansion if a manufacturer or distributor planned to newly enroll as a Medicare DMEPOS supplier (or add new enrolled supplier entities) during the moratorium.

Lifeward to Acquire Powered Upper Body Exoskeleton with AI Capabilities Designed to Restore Function to Stroke Survivors

Analysis: Now ReWalk is joined by an inflatable glove exo for hand physical rehabilitation… which could synergize well as finger and arm strength are required for people to hold onto mobility aids to effectively use the ReWalk or ReStore.

XoLab is calling for 2–4 page extended-abstract submissions (due March 10, 2026 via PaperPlaza, with paper ID emailed to olmo.moreno@iit.it) for the 1st “Setup Interfaces for Wearable Robotics” workshop at AIM 2026 in Genoa, Italy (July 7–10, 2026).

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