Funded by the UK’s Leverhulme Trust, I am currently examining the development and possibilities of exoskeleton technology.
Exoskeletons are wearable robotic exoskeletons being used to augment human strength and, in some cases, supplement the need for care workers. The technology is moving across sectors and seen as a means to extend the productive lives and bodies of workers and to deliver cost efficiencies to government and industry.
Carried out with my research collaborator, Geraldine Pratt, this work has involved semi-structured interviews with eight different exoskeleton companies based in 7 countries (US, UK, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Germany, France), as well as observation and ‘on-the floor’ interviews at two medical trade fairs (in Germany and the UK). We have concentrated our efforts on following the activities of Cyberdyne and German Bionics, two exoskeleton companies who are prominent players in the evolving global market of occupational and medical exoskeletons.
