Exoskeleton Report Newsletter – Week 18, 2025

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World Exoskeleton Day – May 2

Started by Project MARCH, World Exoskeleton Day is gaining attention, especially in the gait-assist field.

Industrial

• WearRAcon Europe 2025 – Call for Speakers is now open. Regular submissions are due by July 4, and late-breaking results will be due by September 15.

• ILO Global Report – While focused on AI and digitalization, the International Labour Organization’s 2025 report includes a discussion of industrial exoskeletons, both pros and cons.

• New Study – Passive back support exoskeletons were found ineffective in reducing physical demands during simulated floor tiling. Study methodology raised concerns about real-world applicability due to lack of dynamic adjustment.

Medical

• Embodied AI in Rehab – A new alliance led by Fourier Rehab and global partners launched during the GReAT Summit 2025.

• Stroke Rehab Study – A study with 25 stroke patients found better neuroplasticity and motor function outcomes with exoskeleton-assisted training than conventional therapy.

Technology

• Review on sEMG Control – A review of 321 surface EMG (sEMG) studies for upper-limb exoskeletons highlights major variability issues. Authors recommend hybrid models (sEMG + AI + other sensors) for reliable control.

Business

• Myomo Q1 2025 – Revenue up 162% to $9.8M, 182 units delivered, but still unprofitable with a $3.5M loss. (The stock lost over 30% of its value the following day, even though the results looked positive.)

• Ekso Bionics Q1 2025 – Revenue declined to $3.4M due to reduced EksoNR sales, partly offset by stronger Indego® Personal sales.

Standards

• Firefighting Test Method – ASTM is developing a new standard (WK93944) to test how exoskeletons support tasks like pulling down ceilings.

Awards

• Auxsys Wins Innovation World Cup – Recognized at the WT Wearable Technologies Europe Conference in Munich.

Academia

• Stair-Climbing Exoskeleton – Research from the University of Utah and the University of Twente shows reduced quadriceps effort with an active knee exoskeleton.

• Harvard Senior Project – Students created an ankle exoskeleton for children with cerebral palsy.

• MyoStep for Pediatric Mobility – University of Houston developed a lightweight soft exoskeleton for children with cerebral palsy, in collaboration with TIRR Memorial Hermann.

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