Hypershell Pro X Series Review: An Exoskeleton You Can Actually Buy

WIRED Editor Amit Katwala has traveled acold and wide for a hands-on look astatine nan early of robotic artificial limbs, and nan technological advancement he witnessed is beyond impressive. But successful truth, his quest to go Superhuman is still stuck successful nan prototype phase. I, connected nan different hand, person been galavanting astir nan English countryside wearing nan Hypershell Pro X, nan first readily disposable leg-boosting, mile-eating, powered exoskeleton.

As a broader merchandise category, exoskeletons person nan imaginable to heighten mobility for those pinch disabilities, helping them regain independency and amended their value of life. They tin besides trim beingness strain successful nan workplace, minimizing nan chances of wounded and boosting productivity. But nan likes of Hypershell produces nonmedical, wearable exoskeletons that committedness muscle-boosting powerfulness for america mean Joes.

The mostly of these designs, however, look to beryllium permanently connected preorder, aliases ambitiously chasing nan large bucks connected Kickstarter, truthful it's refreshing to beryllium capable to trial thing that's disposable connected Amazon.

Last twelvemonth I reviewed a prelaunch type of nan akin DNSYS X1 (WIRED 5/10) and recovered it to beryllium glitchy, heavy, and mostly disappointing, but it did show promise. It remains stuck successful preorder however, arsenic does nan much-publicized brace of $5,000 Arc’teryx MO/GO powered pants.

So tin Hypershell do it better? There are presently 3 versions of nan Hypershell exoskeleton: nan basal 400-watt, $900 Hypershell Go X, nan $1,199 Pro X which has a 800-watt output, 10.8-mile range, and enhanced capabilities for moving and moreover cycling assistance. And past there’s nan Hypershell Carbon X, which uses a titanium alloy alternatively of c fibre and costs $1,500.

The Go X offers 7.5 miles per hr maximum velocity assistance while nan Pro X’s 800-watt centrifugal tin thief up to speeds of 12.4 miles per hour. Each exemplary collapses down to 16.9 × 10.2 × 4.9 inches, and nan Go and Pro X measurement 4.41 pounds, while nan Carbon type is 7 ounces lighter.

My Hypershell Pro X sample has a 5000-mAh 72-Wh battery, pinch quoted assisted scope of 10.8 miles (17.5 kilometers) and 10 modes, including up and down stairs, down and uphill, cycling, running, title walking, and regular walking. I’ve been wearing nan exoskeleton for nan past fewer months while testing various outdoor gear, including hiking boots and rain jackets, and wrong seconds of turning it connected I knew it was importantly much useful than nan DNSYS X1, giving my legs a bully power-up connected trails. Did I consciousness for illustration a fool wearing it successful public? Absolutely. Did my woman inquire maine “Why are you stepping for illustration Woody from Toy Story?” Yes. But for galore group successful need, nan use of nan assistance should outweigh nan mild embarrassment.

Fit and Features

Strapping myself successful for nan first time, I’m impressed by nan build quality, nan ergonomic fit, and adjustability. The little backmost and hep cushioning is peculiarly good. I’m 5′ 11′′ tall, and astir adults—Hypershell estimates 80 percent—will person nary fitting issues. The fantabulous app takes you done nan full process, pinch step-by-step video instructions connected adjusting to fit, and past erstwhile you’re corseted in, it demos nan various powerfulness modes and controls. When you first powerfulness on, nan inert instrumentality springs to life and tightens up, and erstwhile you’ve chosen a powerfulness mode, it instantly starts to activity arsenic you walk.