Ingenuity in our nature never ceases to inspire our tech. And so, lobsters, cockroaches and grasshoppers have encouraged humans to look into the power of exoskeletons. The idea of an external skeleton that supports and protect our bodies is the key to a strengthened physique in everyday life. Mostly, they prolong our lives in the workforce in more and more demanding work environments. 

Back pain is one of the most common work-related injuries and about 80% of adults experience it at some point in their lifetime. It’s even responsible for one-fourth of sick days. That’s why Noonee created the Chairless Chair, a robust exoskeleton that allows its wearer to sit down anytime, anywhere. It lessens stress on back and legs and easily attaches to the body, allowing the wearer to easily switch between sitting, standing and walking.

Activelink and Panasonics Assist Robots is based on the same idea but focuses on aiding workers in lifting. By providing torque at the hips, it reduces stress on the spine when lifting heavy objects. It lasts for eight hours before needing to be recharged. This is part of a mission to ”help realise a power barrier-less society by offering a helping hand during manual labour and at other worksites" says the President of Activelink Co., Hiromichi Fujimoto.

Outside of the working area, Seismic Powered Clothing aims to strengthen the human body in our daily activities. Although it won’t transform us into superhumans, it's meant to give a physical advantage when worn as a base layer. It reacts to the body’s natural movements, complements our muscles’ actions and fits snugly underneath your clothing.

Not only can exoskeletons be tailored to our bodies but we can also wear robotics skins for illness prevention. Index Award 2019 Finalist Skin Display is a nanomesh sensor that sticks to the body like a band-aid to monitor our health. It can be worn for weeks at a time, providing health notifications and reminders to its' wearer while keeping practitioners updated on their patients. Skin Display not only enables remote care but can be a lifesaver for the elderly population, which continues to grow and needs considerable care.

Don't forget, Index Award 2021 is now open for nominations – submit a project now!