There are many potential uses for powered exoskeleton technology, from
medical or therapeutic applications to protection and aid of civil servants
like fire fighters. Exoskeleton technologies will be adaptable to several
different circumstances, from full body suits for construction workers
to specific parts such as leg supports for the elderly or disabled. The
concepts behind exoskeletons can even be adapted to advanced prosthetics
for individuals who have lost limbs altogether.
Many early exoskeleton projects focused mainly on the development of powered
leg supports to aid those who have trouble walking. Over time, others
began to include features such as back supports for those with spinal
injuries to help align and stabilize the wearer. More recently many suits
have included upper body support for the arms and shoulders, allowing
mobility to those with deteriorated arms muscles or nerve damage and even
enhanced strength for carrying increased loads. Still more projects have
extended their efforts to include extra features such as back-mounted
packs to allow the wearer to carry heavy loads without strain (UC Berkeley).
Besides helping the injured or disabled, powered exoskeletons can be employed
to avoid injury in the first place. Those with hazardous jobs like fire
and rescue workers could benefit from the protection an exoskeleton would
provide as well as the increased strength it would allow. Suits designed
for firemen could contain all the protective equipment used today plus
more while simultaneously removing the strain of carrying extra weight.
Such a suit would prevent fatigue and risk of injury and allow the wearer
greater ability to perform the dangerous task at hand. Other individuals,
construction workers for example, would undoubtedly find a use for this
technology. Enhanced strength and durability would greatly ease a worker’s
burden and reduce the risk of work-related injury.