# 195. Wear This Exoskeleton & Save Your Knees!

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2024-10-08
- Length: 21m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-10-08-195-wear-this-exoskeleton-save-your-knees
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/195-wear-this-exoskeleton-save-your-knees-ecRP2h9O

## Summary

Hosts Daniel and Forbode discuss a University of Michigan research project developing a knee-focused exoskeleton to support blue-collar workers. The device retrofits commercial knee braces with drone motors and uses a physics-based machine learning model to assist the quadriceps during repetitive lifting. The hosts highlight test data showing a 44% performance retention in fatigued users and discuss the potential for reducing workplace injuries and increasing productivity through affordable, scalable hardware.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-10-08-195-wear-this-exoskeleton-save-your-knees#t=0) Introduction: Exoskeletons in Industry 5.0
- [1:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-10-08-195-wear-this-exoskeleton-save-your-knees#t=113) Labor Shortages and the Case for Exoskeletons
- [4:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-10-08-195-wear-this-exoskeleton-save-your-knees#t=255) Drawbacks of Current Back-Brace Exoskeletons
- [6:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-10-08-195-wear-this-exoskeleton-save-your-knees#t=388) University of Michigan's Knee Exoskeleton Design
- [9:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-10-08-195-wear-this-exoskeleton-save-your-knees#t=595) Retrofitting Commercial Braces with Drone Motors
- [12:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-10-08-195-wear-this-exoskeleton-save-your-knees#t=734) Physics-Based Machine Learning and Latency
- [13:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-10-08-195-wear-this-exoskeleton-save-your-knees#t=833) Fatigue Testing and Performance Data
- [15:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-10-08-195-wear-this-exoskeleton-save-your-knees#t=943) Unit Economics and Injury Cost Savings

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Mouser Electronics (company)
- University of Michigan (company)
- Wevolver (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [From Wearables to Insurance: How Kinetic is Revolutionizing Workplace Safety](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2025-01-23-from-wearables-to-insurance-how-kinetic-is-revolutionizing-workplace-safety) (Over the Air)
- [Sarcos’ Ben Wolff, Uber ATG low on fuel, ROS on Spot](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2020-09-22-sarcos-ben-wolff-uber-atg-low-on-fuel-ros-on-spot) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [187: Self-Driving Arm (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-05-02-187-self-driving-arm-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode 90: Robotically Augmented People - Robot Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-06-21-episode-90-robotically-augmented-people-robot-talk-live) (Robot Talk)
- [187: Self-Driving Arm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-02-15-187-self-driving-arm) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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