Wearing it makes you walk briskly, putting it on can "protect your knees and save your joints." In recent years, a high-tech product originally used more in medical rehabilitation and industrial manufacturing—"exoskeleton assistive devices"—has quietly emerged in the consumer market.
Purchasing an exoskeleton assistive device: actual material does not match advertised claims
Not long ago, Mr. Zhang from Zhuhai, Guangdong, spent a large sum online to buy one for his parents as a filial gift. But when he tried it at home, he found that this so-called "walking miracle" not only failed to help the elderly walk easily but became a heavy burden.
Mr. Zhang from Zhuhai, Guangdong, bought an exoskeleton hiking assist device online to make it easier for his parents to get around. On the product detail page, "carbon fiber" and "titanium alloy" were highlighted selling points, claiming the product was both sturdy and lightweight. However, after receiving and testing it, he found that the exoskeleton could not provide effective leg support for the elderly.
Consumer Mr. Zhang: "When I weighed it, it was very heavy. When I tried it on, it basically didn't support my legs at all. It didn't provide support but actually brought some risks."
Mr. Zhang recalled that he did not purchase from the official flagship store but from an authorized dealer of that brand. When he verified the materials on the brand's official flagship store, he found that this Go model exoskeleton was actually made of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, etc., and not the carbon fiber or titanium alloy advertised by the dealer.
After discovering that the actual product did not match the advertising, Mr. Zhang decided to return it. However, the merchant refused his return request, citing minor scratches on the product that would affect secondary sale.
Journalists found that many merchants promote products with features such as intelligent assistance and significant load reduction, but the claimed assistive parameters vary widely. Currently, there is no unified inspection standard for exoskeleton products, leading to a gap between product claims and actual consumer experience.
On major e-commerce and social platforms, exoskeleton assistive products are abundant, with the elderly as a core consumer group. Most of these products boast "powerful assistance" as their selling point. However, journalists found that the claimed assistive parameters differ greatly: some emphasize "saving energy" by a certain percentage, some claim to provide 30% to 50% assistance, and others claim to reduce load by 40 to 80 jin (20 to 40 kg). Yet, where these so-called assistive data come from is not clearly explained by any brand.
Hu Huimin, researcher at the China National Institute of Standardization: "Many products on the market claim how strong their assistance is and how good the effect is, but they all lack scientific experimental data, and the technology varies widely."
A unified test and evaluation standard for exoskeleton performance has not yet been established
So, what standards should a qualified intelligent exoskeleton product meet? How does the consumer's body data achieve "human-machine synergy" with the machine?
In the laboratory of the China National Institute of Standardization, standardization engineers are testing a core indicator of intelligent exoskeleton robots—"assistive effect." This indicator is not only the most important for consumers but also the most confusing in advertising.
Around the actual assistive effect of exoskeletons, subjects wearing exoskeletons completed 15 minutes of cycling and climbing tasks. During the process, indicators such as muscle activation, energy consumption, and heart rate were collected in real-time, combined with subjective evaluations from subjects to analyze the improvement in exercise performance after wearing the exoskeleton.
Subject: "I feel that during walking, it helps lift my legs, making me feel less tired. Without it, I feel my heartbeat and breathing are a bit faster."
Niu Wenlei, engineer at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory of the China National Institute of Standardization: "There are differences between products. For example, some can reduce heart rate by about 10%, while others can achieve 20% or even 40%. The binding method, hardware, weight, and algorithm all affect its effectiveness."
Engineers told reporters that besides assistive effect, human-machine synergy is another core indicator of exoskeleton products. The key to this indicator is that the device's output force must be highly synchronized with the human body's movements and rhythm. Only by achieving "real-time synchronization" can the exoskeleton truly transition from a "tool" to an "extension of the body," becoming more "human-aware."
Standardization research experts say that with the deepening integration of China's artificial intelligence technology with the national strategy for aging adaptation, the future development prospects of intelligent exoskeleton products are broad. However, currently, unified test and evaluation standards for intelligent exoskeleton performance have not been established. Differences in parameter labeling standards among products hinder the industry's further development, making the establishment of scientific standards and norms necessary.
How to choose an exoskeleton? Listen to orthopedic experts
Medical experts point out that with age, human bones, joints, muscles, and the spine gradually undergo functional degeneration. Various problems interact, affecting the daily travel and quality of life of the elderly. This is the main reason why many elderly people want to use exoskeletons to assist walking.
Medical experts remind that when purchasing exoskeleton products, the elderly should focus on lightness, ease of wearing, and safety.
Wang Lei, deputy chief physician of orthopedics at the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital: "When choosing an exoskeleton, we should pay attention to the following points.
First, it should be lightweight and not add extra burden; the total weight including the battery must be controlled within 3 kg.
Second, it should be easy to wear and remove.
Third, it must be safe, with start-stop devices and feedback mechanisms to prevent falls, so as to more effectively prevent adverse events."
Medical experts remind that some elderly people with cognitive and balance disorders are not suitable for exoskeleton products.
Wang Lei, deputy chief physician of orthopedics at the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital: "An exoskeleton can be understood as a mechanical crutch; the elderly still need to walk on their own legs. The correct understanding is that the exoskeleton helps improve and reduce joint pressure, reduce fatigue, increase walking distance, and reduce walking difficulties."
From the survey, it is clear that there is still a long way to go before exoskeleton products truly enter ordinary households, especially benefiting the elderly. On one hand, regulation and standards cannot be absent; unified industry access and ergonomic evaluation standards should be established as soon as possible. On the other hand, consumers must be rational; high-tech aids are "assistance" not "main force," and they should not blindly believe merchant claims. Only by grounding cutting-edge technology on rigorous, scientific, and standardized foundations can exoskeleton products truly help consumers reduce burden and improve quality of life in later years.
