Exoskeletons as an Assistive Technology for Mobility and Manipulation

This chapter describes the principles that underlie the performance criteria for a particular exoskeleton technology when it is implemented as an assistive technology for mobility or manipulation. It lists the walking exoskeletons (lower limb exoskeletons, LLEs) that are either commercially available or nearing production and also the upper limb exoskeletons (ULEs) for manipulation that are either commercially available or nearing production. MUNDUS (Multimodal Neuroprosthesis for Daily Upper limb Support) was a focused ULE research project that ended in 2013 and was funded by the European Commission. The chapter also describes the client populations, and their associated disabili­ties, that are candidate users for exoskeleton technologies. It discusses the current limitations of exoskeletons for use in the community and describes the activities, applications, and environments suitable for exoskeleton use as a mobility device, both currently and in the future. The chapter illustrates systems ready or nearly ready for commercialization, that is, the developers have demonstrated the technology and have a commercial partner.