Innovation of the week: A robotic exoskeleton to help paraplegics walk

A robotic exoskeleton will get paraplegics up and walking — at a relatively budget price, said Mark Wilson in Fast Company. The Phoenix is a 27-pound mechanical frame created by Berkeley, California–based SuitX that's lighter and far more affordable than similar devices. The secret is its "spartan design," which focuses entirely on helping the wearer walk.

More sophisticated exoskeletons are loaded with powerful motors that allow wearers to replicate a wide range of movements, like running or jumping. The Phoenix's only motors are at the hip joints, which swing forward in succession while "the onboard computer signals the knee to become loose, flex, and clear the ground." Wearing the Phoenix, someone normally bound to a wheelchair can sit, stand, and walk on a level grade at 1.1 miles per hour. It goes on sale next month for $40,000, two to four times less than competitors' models.

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