Scenes from The Wandering Earth 2 and Death Stranding, where characters move through harsh terrain in powered exoskeletons, are no longer confined to science fiction. Similar gear is beginning to appear in outdoor recreation.
On July 4, at a resort along Yangcheng Lake, more than a dozen people walked along the lakeside wearing ULS Robotics’ Viatrix exoskeletons. After a few steps, their strides appeared to become lighter. According to ULS, the exoskeletons learned each user’s walking posture and applied thrust as they lifted their legs, making the six-kilometer hike feel closer to a leisurely city walk.
The event was jointly planned by ULS and outdoor platform Camplus. The route connected lakeside trails, resort spaces, and an ecological park, with multiple viewing and gear-changing points along the way. It gave participants a hands-on look at how human-machine assisted hiking could work in a leisure setting.
Photo source: ULS Robotics.
As an extension of human physical strength, exoskeletons represented by ULS are gradually moving from factory assembly lines and hospital rehabilitation departments into mountains and outdoor spaces. Their ability to support mobility and endurance is turning them into a new form of travel and exercise built around human-machine collaboration.
