Wrapping a robot around a human
chinatopwin
chinatopwin
2018-05-05 09:44:47
Assembly Plant stopped making cars around the mid-1950s. These days, the space is home to
a broad range of companies, including Mountain Hardwear and solar panel manufacturer,
SunPower. But there is, perhaps, no tenant more suited for the space than Ekso Bionics.
Founded in 2005 as a spin-off of UC Berkeley’s Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory,
the company creates soft exoskeletons, designed to aid factory workers in tedious, repetitive
and taxing tasks.
Late last year, the startup fittingly partnered with Ford, bringing its wearable robotic suits to
Late last year, the startup fittingly partnered with Ford, bringing its wearable robotic suits to
Michigan factory workers. The deal, paid for by the United Auto Workers union, will lead to the
EksoVest’s deployment in factories all over the world. But Ekso’s focus moves beyond the
factory walls. As with so many other robotics companies, it began life in pursuit of military
funding.
“Originally the company was about helping soldiers carry heavy equipment in the field. One of
“Originally the company was about helping soldiers carry heavy equipment in the field. One of
the founder’s brother was a Navy Seal,” explains Ekso CFO Max Scheder-Bieschin. “He was
injured and became a quadriplegic. It pivoted from ‘how do I build things to help my brother
serve our country’ to ‘how do I help my brother and other quadriplegics get up and walking
again’ with that same technology.”
The company’s Ekso Health line focuses on rehabilitation. Ekso’s suits offer lightweight,
The company’s Ekso Health line focuses on rehabilitation. Ekso’s suits offer lightweight,
wearable assistance to patients suffering mobility setbacks from things like strokes.
But Scheder-Bieschin says the company envisions a world in the not so distant future when
But Scheder-Bieschin says the company envisions a world in the not so distant future when
the technology is a ubiquitous part of our lives. “In 10 years, exoskeletons are going to be
analogous to the smartphone today,” the executive explains. “One of the things that
distinguishes Ekso is that we know how to wrap a robot around a human, and we do it
better than anybody else.”After a quarter of a century, Richmond, Calif.’s 500,000-square-
foot Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant stopped making cars around the mid-1950s.
These days, the space is home to a broad range of companies, including Mountain
Hardwear and solar panel manufacturer, SunPower. But there is, perhaps, no tenant
more suited for the space than Ekso Bionics.
Founded in 2005 as a spin-off of UC Berkeley’s Robotics and Human Engineering
Founded in 2005 as a spin-off of UC Berkeley’s Robotics and Human Engineering
Laboratory, the company creates soft exoskeletons, designed to aid factory workers in
tedious, repetitive and taxing tasks.
Late last year, the startup fittingly partnered with Ford, bringing its wearable robotic suits
Late last year, the startup fittingly partnered with Ford, bringing its wearable robotic suits
to Michigan factory workers. The deal, paid for by the United Auto Workers union, will
lead to the EksoVest’s deployment in factories all over the world. But Ekso’s focus
moves beyond the factory walls. As with so many other robotics companies, it began
life in pursuit of military funding.
“Originally the company was about helping soldiers carry heavy equipment in the field.
“Originally the company was about helping soldiers carry heavy equipment in the field.
One of the founder’s brother was a Navy Seal,” explains Ekso CFO Max Scheder-
Bieschin. “He was injured and became a quadriplegic. It pivoted from ‘how do I build
things to help my brother serve our country’ to ‘how do I help my brother and other
quadriplegics get up and walking again’ with that same technology.”
The company’s Ekso Health line focuses on rehabilitation. Ekso’s suits offer lightweight,
wearable assistance to patients suffering mobility setbacks from things like strokes.
But Scheder-Bieschin says the company envisions a world in the not so distant future
But Scheder-Bieschin says the company envisions a world in the not so distant future
when the technology is a ubiquitous part of our lives. “In 10 years, exoskeletons are
going to be analogous to the smartphone today,” the executive explains. “One of the
things that distinguishes Ekso is that we know how to wrap a robot around a human,
and we do it better than anybody else.”