GoKawiilDo you consider yourself fit and healthy? I strength train, run, hike, climb and swim — albeit not according to any kind of training plan or schedule — and yet there are so many ways my body struggles on a daily basis.
Even people who consider themselves to have a high level of cardiovascular fitness might lack strength, balance or flexibility. It’s almost impossible for one person to adhere to a truly holistic training plan. We all have weaknesses. We all know what it’s like to feel fatigued.
What if technology could pick up the slack? That’s the premise behind the Hypershell Halo, a full-leg exoskeleton unveiled at IFA in Berlin last week. This is far from the first Hypershell exoskeleton, but unlike previous models, the Halo extends further down the leg to provide support through the knee and calf, as well as through the thigh and hip.
The Hypershell Halo is flexible enough to allow a full range of movement. Katie Collins/CNET
The Hypershell unified architecture is one carbon-fiber, load-bearing structure with what the company is calling a “fish-spine adaptive joint” to allow for flexibility through the hip and into the leg. Its four-motor system is designed to power you through a whole range of movements while reducing knee-muscle fatigue by up to 40% across all types of terrain.
As someone with chronically creaky knees, I was excited to try the Hypershell Halo over the weekend at IFA. The target audience for an exoskeleton may be older adults and people with limited mobility, but Hypershell seems to be hoping the Halo will have broader appeal. Someone like me, who is active and enthusiastic about exploring the outdoors, but who sometimes reaches their physical limits earlier than they’d like, is also a contender.
I quickly discovered that putting the Hypershell Halo on is all part of the adventure. One belt attaches around the waist, and two flexible straps feed around the thighs. It takes a good few minutes and help from two people to adjust the exoskeleton to fit my proportions, but once the settings are right, it’s very quick to take on and off. (In an on-stage demonstration during the Halo launch event, I watched as the presenter put the exoskeleton on in just 16 seconds.)
My first impression is that I feel a little stiff and restricted, but that sensation immediately evaporates once I start moving. The kit weighs 2.6kg in total, with the majority of that distributed around my waist. I thought the Halo would take some getting used to and might disrupt my natural gait, but it doesn’t at all. Instead, I instantly feel lighter in my natural movements. Squatting and standing from a low seated position without using my hands for support and thrust is totally effortless.
Most of the weight is distributed around your waist. Katie Collins/CNET
As I trample cheerfully all over Hypershell’s multistory booth, I find that that the only pressure anywhere in my legs is in my ankle joints. Going downstairs, I feel none of the usual pressure in my knees, thanks to the cushioning effect. The exoskeleton isn’t doing the work of walking for me, but it feels as though I could keep going for much longer.
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