The History of Exoskeletons: From early prototypes to modern industrial exosuits

Exoskeletons may sound like futuristic inventions, but their story goes back several decades. What started as experimental robotics projects in research labs has evolved into wearable systems that support people in healthcare, logistics, and industry today.

Early Visions: The First Exoskeleton Concepts

The story of modern exoskeletons began much earlier than many might think. Early mechanical support concepts appeared as far back as the early 20^th century, but they never developed into functional systems. The first officially documented project came around 1965, when General Electric in the USA began developing Hardiman, a massive full-body exoskeleton designed to augment the user’s strength for lifting heavy objects. It was a bold vision, far ahead of its time and also too heavy and complex to be practical.

Around the same period, researchers at the Mihajlo Pupin Institute in Serbia and later at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (USA) developed the first exoskeletons for gait assistance. Their goal was to help people with mobility impairments walk again. This idea remains central to rehabilitation robotics today.

Due to the technical limitations of the era, it took several decades before exoskeleton technology matured enough for practical use.

Timeline of exoskeleton developments (not in scale)

From the Lab to the Clinic

With the beginning of the 21st century, exoskeletons started to move from laboratories to real applications. One of the first commercial products was Lokomat, launched in 2001 by Hocoma AG in Switzerland. The system revolutionized gait rehabilitation, helping patients with stroke or spinal cord injuries relearn how to walk. By 2013, Hocoma had shipped over 500 systems to hospitals worldwide.

Meanwhile, research in labs and companies expanded. Several projects explored military exoskeletons such as the Raytheon XOS and Lockheed Martin’s HULC, which aimed to enhance endurance and strength.

At the same time, medical exoskeletons like ReWalk (ReWalk Robotics, Israel) and Indego (Parker Hannifin, USA) helped paraplegic users stand and walk again. Many received CE and FDA certifications, allowing clinical and even home use. In 2016, ReWalk celebrated its 100th home-use system. This was a key step toward accessible personal rehabilitation.

Beyond Medical Use: Exoskeletons Enter the Workplace

While early exoskeletons focused on medical use, new opportunities soon emerged in industry and logistics. Around 2015, companies began developing industrial exoskeletons to reduce physical strain and prevent injuries at work.

One of the first examples was the Chairless Chair from the Swiss company Noonee, a leg extension that allows users to sit anywhere and relieve strain from prolonged standing. Another was the Laevo from the Netherlands: a passive back-support exoskeleton that helps workers during repetitive lifting or forward-leaning work.

Passive exoskeletons quickly gained popularity because they were simpler, lighter and more affordable than powered versions. They focused on ergonomic support rather than strength augmentation, making them practical for industries like logistics, construction and manufacturing.

The Rise of Textile Exosuits

In the mid-2010s, a new concept emerged: soft exoskeletons, or textile exosuits, made primarily from lightweight fabrics instead of rigid metal frames.

At the Wyss Institute at Harvard University, researchers developed textile-based exosuits for walking assistance. Around the same time, the Sensory-Motor Systems Lab at ETH Zurich explored similar designs. Research that later led to the creation of MyoSwiss, an ETH spin-off that launched the MyoSuit in 2020.

In 2017, ReWalk Robotics licensed Harvard’s exosuit technology, which was approved in 2019 for use with stroke patients in rehabilitation centers.

Textile-based exosuits brought a major advantage: they were flexible, natural to wear, and adaptable to the user’s movement. It made wearable support feel more like clothing than machinery.

The Rise of Textile Exosuits

In the mid-2010s, a new concept emerged: soft exoskeletons, or textile exosuits, made primarily from lightweight fabrics instead of rigid metal frames.

At the Wyss Institute at Harvard University, researchers developed textile-based exosuits for walking assistance. Around the same time, the Sensory-Motor Systems Lab at ETH Zurich explored similar designs. Research that later led to the creation of MyoSwiss, an ETH spin-off that launched the MyoSuit in 2020.

In 2017, ReWalk Robotics licensed Harvard’s exosuit technology, which was approved in 2019 for use with stroke patients in rehabilitation centers.

Textile-based exosuits brought a major advantage: they were flexible, natural to wear, and adaptable to the user’s movement. It made wearable support feel more like clothing than machinery.

Industrial Exoskeletons: The Second Generation

Around 2020, a new wave of innovation – driven by fresh design concepts and many incremental improvements – marked the rise of a second generation of industrial exoskeletons. These systems are lighter, more comfortable, and easier to use than their predecessors, making them suitable for everyday work environments. Enhanced ergonomics, adjustability, and affordability have turned exoskeletons from experimental prototypes into practical tools that effectively reduce fatigue and help prevent injuries across industries such as logistics, construction, and manufacturing.

Exoskeletons in the Public Eye

As technology advanced, public awareness grew. In 2012, Claire Lomas, who has paraplegia, made headlines when she completed the London Marathon using a ReWalk exoskeleton – finishing after 17 days. She later repeated the achievement in a half-marathon in 2016.

At the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a paralyzed user performed the symbolic kick-off using a mind-controlled exoskeleton developed as part of the Walk Again Project.

In 2016, ETH Zurich hosted the first Cybathlon, a global competition where exoskeleton users, known as pilots, completed an obstacle course designed to simulate daily challenges such as climbing stairs of walking over uneven terrain. None of the teams finished the full course that year, but the event showcased how far assistive robotics had progressed.

By the second Cybathlon in 2020, all finalists completed the course, showing how much exoskeleton performance had advanced in just four years. The third Cybathlon, held in October 2024 with 67 international teams across eight disciplines, once again highlighted the remarkable progress in rehabilitation and mobility technologies. It reinforced the event’s status as a global showcase for human-machine collaboration.

Inspired by this, the Fraunhofer IPA Institute in Germany launched the Exoworkathlon in 2021, a benchmarking event for industrial exoskeletons. The most recent edition took place in 2023 at the A+A trade fair in Düsseldorf. Manufacturers, researchers, and users tested and compared systems in realistic work scenarios. The next Exoworkathlon is scheduled for 4-7 November 2025, once again at the A+A Düsseldorf, as part of the “Triple Exo Event” alongside WearRAcon Europe 2025.

These events help showcase the impact of exosuits and promote standardized performance testing across the industry.

From Science Fiction to Everyday Reality

In just a few decades, exoskeletons have evolved from science fiction to reality. From heavy metal machines to lightweight textile exosuits that can be worn comfortably all day.

Today, exoskeletons are helping workers stay healthy, reduce back strain, and prevent long-term injuries. In healthcare, they continue to restore mobility and independence for thousands of people.

While mass adoption is still growing, awareness is increasing fast. As industrial exoskeletons become more affordable and intuitive, they are shaping a future where technology and the human body work together – creating safer, more efficient workplaces for everyone.