Climbing mountains with less effort is the idea of the exoskeleton manufactured by Hypershell, a Chinese company. After successfully completing crowdfunding, the company managed to design two different models.
The concept of an exoskeleton dates back several decades; in fact, the idea of mechanically increasing human strength using such a device had already crossed Leslie C. Kelley’s mind. In 1961, he worked for General Electrics and had developed a device called “Handyman”, a kind of primitive exoskeleton. We had to wait almost half a century to see more advanced prototypes, intended for industrial or medical use, such as these robotic boots. Hypershell’s product is completely different in its intended use.
An exoskeleton for leisure
Funding of one million dollars on the Kickstarter platform allowed the company to develop a first model, called Omega, last March. While most exoskeletons are used for industrial or military purposes, the Hypershell project attracted its contributors because of its orientation for the general public.
The product was particularly intended for athletes and lovers of outdoor activities such as trekking or hiking. Light, compact and controlled using AI, it allowed its user to increase the strength of their legs during exercise. Originally, the company was supposed to launch three models last September, but these were still only at the prototype stage.
Two models of exoskeletons: the ProX and the Gox
Hypershell is now ready and will present two different exoskeletons during CES 2024 in Las Vegas, an unmissable event. The first, called ProX, is the one closest to Omega. It is mainly intended for runners and long-distance hikers. It is capable of generating up to 800 watts of power, the equivalent of a horse. This may not seem like much, but in reality, the increase in strength is considerable on a human scale. It can also compensate for a load of 30 kg, such as a backpack for example. The efforts made during particularly strenuous physical exercises in the mountains are then greatly reduced.
Very light in design (2 kg), it integrates eight passive joints and a motorized main joint, all optimized by AI. It can withstand rather harsh conditions, down to -20°C and splashes have no effect on it. It is fully foldable and offers a good range of 35 km. On the other hand, if Hypershell planned to launch its product at a price around 300 dollars, this is no longer the case. Today prices for the ProX range from $600 to $1,300. For the moment, the specifics of the GoX are not yet known.
While this innovation may make mountain purists cringe, it will delight those who no longer have the physical condition to indulge in their favorite sports.
Sources: Futura Sciences, Youtube
8