Ekso Bionics Holdings, Inc. unveiled EVO, an endurance-boosting assistive upper body exoskeleton that alleviates the burden of repetitive work. Building on the company’s EksoVest technology, EVO’s innovative design is the next step in the evolution of industrial exoskeletons, according to Ekso.
Through collaborations with leaders in global manufacturing and construction, Ekso Bionics has accumulated a wealth of in-the-field customer insights that allowed it to reimagine its weight-assist exoskeleton technology. EVO is lighter and more flexible than its predecessor, with an optimized human-machine interface that is cool and comfortable to wear for all-day use, while also maintaining ruggedness and durability, according to its maker. EVO’s novel design incorporates Ekso’s new patented low profile, multi-link structure, which tracks the natural movement of the body and allows for an unrestricted range of motion, and a device architecture that is compatible with standard safety harnesses used in elevated work. Ekso claims that these advancements in design make EVO the ideal solution for a wide range of industrial, manufacturing, food processing, and construction applications.
The EVO exoskeleton
“Through working closely with our customers, we gained tremendous insights and feedback that help us evolve EVO to better meet their needs and provide a programmatic solution to some of their most complicated ergonomic problems,” said Michael Pratt, vice president at Ekso Bionics. “By augmenting human capabilities, EVO was designed to relieve the burden on industrial workers and provide them with a technology solution that improves their quality of life. True to our mission, we are now offering a flexible acquisition model that will lower the capital barrier and allow more industrial workers access to the latest exoskeleton technology.”
EVO is a passive, spring-loaded assistive upper-body exoskeleton that aids workers with overhead work. It is designed to reduce fatigue and shoulder and back muscle strain, with the goal of eliminating work-related injuries to the neck, shoulder, and back. EVO offers 5-15 pounds of lift assistance in each arm to elevate and alleviate the day-to-day strain on workers across all industries.
