Over two days of testing, nine stroke survivors ranging from 30 to 67 years old wore the exosuit both while walking tethered on a treadmill and walking untethered over open ground. The volunteers all showed roughly 10 percent more efficient and 20 percent more symmetrical strides while wearing this ankle-support device.

“This foundational study shows that soft wearable robots can have significant positive impact on gait functions in patients post-stroke, and it is the result of a translational-focused multidisciplinary team of engineers, designers, biomechanists, physical therapists and most importantly patients who volunteered for this study and gave valuable feedback that guided our research,” said Walsh, the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences at SEAS, Wyss Core Faculty member and the founder of the Harvard Biodesign Lab.

이상준 미국 하버드대 바이오디자인랩 박사과정 연구원은 “소프트 엑소슈트를 사용하면 걸을 때 쓰이는 에너지가 20∼30% 줄어든다”며 “점프나 무거운 물체를 이동시키는 것처럼 활동적인 운동을 돕는 방향으로도 개발할 수 있다”고 말했다.

Harvard University’s Exosuit helps healthy people (like soldiers) carry loads using 15 to 20 percent less effort than they normally would. They are made with soft textiles and sensors, and powered by a battery and motor that are worn on the back. These ExoSuits can also be used by post-stroke patients and others with impediments to help walk.