Not subscribed to the Exoskeleton Report Weekly Newsletter? Not to worries, we have your archive copy right here. Last week was another busy week in the world of exoskeletons and wearable robotics technology:

Text Only Version:

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Fraunhofer IPA has published a 36-page document outlining all technical discussions and poster presentations from WearRAcon Europe 2025. Go to their website and click “Download” under “Open Access.”

EXOLINK: EVENT-DRIVEN INTELLIGENCE FOR ADAPTIVE EXOSKELETONS IN COLLABORATIVE INDUSTRIAL TASK

The project’s first use case is a collaborative beam-lifting task, where two shoulder-support exoskeletons automatically rebalance assistance between workers to improve ergonomics, safety, and efficiency. You can find the presentation on pages 15 – 16 of the WearRAcon Europe 2025 Conference Proceedings (link above).

Are these now the most common stumbling blocks to occupational exoskeleton implementation:

a) The distributor of the exoskeleton only wanted to sell and that was it. 🤦
b) The prevention department did not have the opinion of the workers before acquiring the equipment 😶
c) An exhaustive monitoring of the correct use of the equipment by the company 🧐 was not carried out
…
d) The company bought the exoskeleton, took a photo showing that they are the coolest and then left it lying around.”

Lifeward Broadens Reimbursement Coverage for ReWalk 7 Personal Robotic Exoskeleton as Humana Medicare Advantage Plan Issues Prior Authorization Approval – “This marks the second national Medicare Advantage Plan, following UnitedHealthcare a few weeks ago,… ‘Nationally nearly half of all Medicare Advantage enrollees are now eligible for prior authorization and reimbursement for ReWalk 7,’ said Mark Grant, CEO of Lifeward.”

Applications of Robotic Exoskeletons as Motion-Assistive Systems in Cancer Rehabilitation

Takeaway: This is a review paper that argues that the next applications of robotic exoskeletons could be as motion-assistive systems in cancer rehabilitation.

Ekso Bionics Inks Agreement to Become the Exclusive U.S. Distributor of MediTouch’s Groundbreaking BalanceTutor™Rehabilitation System

DHL – With over 1.7 billion people affected worldwide, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common work-related health issues. Originating from the healthcare and military industries, exoskeletons appeared on the market for industrial use in logistics more than a decade ago, aiming to reduce the occurrence of MSDs in the workplace.

Since then, performance, usability, and comfort of wear have improved in both active and passive industrial exoskeletons. Also, within the last two years, cost has further decreased, with providers standardizing their products and scaling up production.” – DHL Logistics Trend Radar 7.0

For the last decade, there have been strong voices in the U.S. (like Dr. Bill Billotte) arguing that First Responder (police, search&rescue, etc) exoskeletons should be in a separate application class. This week, there is a news story that strongly supports this view:

Following the tragic fire that engulfed multiple high-rise residential buildings in Tai Po, firefighters have been left climbing up and down the 30-story high buildings on foot in full gear, because all of them remain without power.

Multiple news sources report that “As of Nov 30, Shenzhen had also facilitated the delivery of relief goods provided by government departments in Guangdong province, including 2,300 pairs of fire-resistant boots, 200 sets of exoskeleton equipment, 300 high-intensity explosion-proof flashlights and 10 tents.”

An exhaustive internet search has revealed only one picture of a Hypershell, a hint of what these 200 exoskeletons for stair climbing are, which is plausible but not confirmed.

Hypershell raises an additional $70 million across its Pre-B and B rounds, bringing its post-money valuation close to $400 million.

Investors and backers in Hypershell now include Photon Venture Capital, Source Code Capital, Monolith, Meituan DragonBall, Gaohang Capital, IDG Capital, Sequoia Capital, Decent Universal Group Co., Limited, MiraclePlus (Y Combinator), Vitalbridge, and the Kickstarter and Indiegogo backer communities.

VIGX Kenqing consumer powered hip exoskeleton is now listed on Walmart Digital for $1,700 (a step forward towards making this technology mainstream).

Tyromotion’s Lexo, Omego, Diego, Amadeo, and tyroS – have been successfully certified as Class IIa medical devices under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR).

“This certification officially confirms that all our products now meet the stringent MDR requirements for safety, performance, and clinical evidence. It serves as clear proof of our team’s expertise – and demonstrates our commitment to the highest standards, ensuring that Tyromotion is fully prepared for the demanding regulatory landscape in Europe.”

Wireless ToF and IMU sensors integrated in exoskeleton for proximity detection and motion capture

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