New exoskeleton lets you enter the boxing ring as a robot

You’ll stand 9 feet tall when facing off against your opponent.
Sign up for the Freethink Weekly newsletter!
A collection of our favorite stories straight to your inbox

We’ve seen exoskeletons that help people recover from strokes, get more from their workouts, and even achieve superhuman strength

Now, there’s a new exoskeleton on the scene — and this one lets wearers channel their inner robot warriors. 

Suit up: Japanese company Skeletonics has been making robot exoskeletons for more than a decade, and unlike the sleek suits designed for use at home or work, these devices are larger-than-life spectacles.

Each is at least eight feet tall, and once a person is strapped in, whatever movement they make with their puny human limbs is mirrored in real-time by the robot’s massive arms and legs — they can even pick up light objects using the robot’s hands.

“Skeletonics technology connects the mechanical and electrical components of the suit with the wearer’s body to offer a smooth, harmonious experience of movement,” according to the company’s website.

Boxing exoskeletons: Skeletonics’ Arrive model, which has been available for purchase or rent in the US since 2020, has been on stage with Muse and styled by Balenciaga

Now, the company has unveiled a new version of its exoskeleton designed specifically for the boxing ring.

It’s called the Skeletonics Fighter, and while specs have yet to be released, Skeletonics has shared videos of wearers shadowboxing in the suits (whether they’re built to withstand actual contact is still unknown).

The big picture: While Skeletonics’ exoskeletons might be more form than function, most companies in the wearable robotics industry are developing devices to improve our lives at home and at work.

These exoskeletons might be cutting-edge and expensive today, but as the market grows, prices should drop thanks to innovation and mass production. 

“There is no doubt in my mind that these devices will eventually be sold at hardware stores,” Homayoon Kazerooni, founder of exoskeleton maker SuitX, told BBC News. “As the prices come down you’ll be able to simply buy them at Home Depot.”

We’d love to hear from you! If you have a comment about this article or if you have a tip for a future Freethink story, please email us at [email protected].

Related
How smart devices helped me unlock hidden health wins
By measuring many different body metrics, smart health devices can help support the mental game as much as the physical fitness gains.
How Brilliant Labs CEO is creating a “symbiosis of humanity and artificial intelligence”
CEO Bobak Tavangar discusses the philosophy behind Brilliant’s latest device, Frame, and his vision for the future of AI.
Meet the humanoids: 8 robots ready to revolutionize work
Everything you need to know about the humanoids that will soon enter the workforce — or are in it already.
Boston Dynamics retires dancing Atlas robot — and debuts its electric replacement
A day after retiring its hydraulic Atlas robot, Boston Dynamics released a video debuting its all-electric, workplace-ready replacement.
Does AI need a “body” to become truly intelligent? Meta researchers think so.
We’re finally starting to see what can happen when we put an advanced AI “brain” in a state-of-the-art robot “body” — and it’s remarkable.
Up Next
Artificial fingertip
Subscribe to Freethink for more great stories