As we saw here, medical exoskeletons can be used to rehabilitate those with leg injuries. But the conventional approach has been to design something that caregivers must "install" the user within. Now researchers at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology) have flipped that around. They've developed an exoskeletong that can walk itself over to a user in a wheelchair. It then lowers itself over the user's legs, effectively installing itself.

"WalkON Suit F1 is a powered exoskeleton designed to walk and balance independently, offering enhanced mobility and independence. Users with paraplegia can easily transfer into the suit directly from their wheelchair, ensuring exceptional usability for people with disabilities.

"[Our design employs] a frontal-docking method instead of a rear-sitting method, so that you can wear the robot without getting out of the wheelchair. [Rear-sitting designs] require help from others mid-transition."

While some medical exoskeletons have been designed for rehabilitative purposes, the WalkON Suit F1 is meant specifically for paraplegics. The suit is now being developed by Angel Robotics, a startup founded by KAIST professor Kyoungchul Kong.

The full demo video is below.

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