Who wants to complete their robot cosplay and simultaneously feel more capable of climbing cliffs? Hypershell, the company that brought us the original, relatively affordable sports exoskeleton, now has a few new metal suits for runners and hikers who need a little extra help on the trail.
There are three new models of exoskeleton, a $1,000 Hypershell X Pro S, a $1,500 Max S, and the $2,000 Ultra S. The Pro S was designed for “lighter” outdoor activity, while the Ultra S and Max S have access to up to 1,000W of max power output with 22N of torque with up to 15 mph (25 kph) max speed. The Ultra S also has the largest battery of the three, promising an 18-mile (30-kilometer) range per battery. The package comes with multiple batteries you can swap out when on the road. The surprising thing about the Hypershell exoskeleton is that it works at all. The apparatus is centered around an armature of carbon fiber bars (the non-Ultra models use aluminum instead) that hugs your tailbone and legs just above the knees. Motors inside the back part of the exoskeleton follow your movements, so if you lift your leg, the Hypershell kicks in and pushes or pulls your limb, aiding your steps. © Hypershell Hypershell’s new “S” series is still the same basic design as the last generation of exoskeletons. The main difference is how the device tracks body movement. The company told Gizmodo it had improved its AI motion detection to cut down on the delay between when you move your leg and when the motors kick in.
