Quickly exhausted while hiking or mountain climbing? The solution could soon be an exoskeleton. The project of the Hong Kong-based company Hypershell is currently shooting through the roof on Kickstarter. Their strap-on belt is supposed to enable an output of a whole horsepower.
When Steve Rogers first pursued an assassin on foot with the super-soldier serum in his veins, mustering inhuman strength and speed, we still thought it was science fiction. In the meantime, it has become clear that all Captain America would need today would be an exoskeleton.
Interest in such an exoskeleton seems to be high: On the crowdfunding website Kickstarter, the project of a Hong Kong company is currently going through the roof. Strapped around the hips, the Hypershell Go is supposed to make its wearer much stronger and more powerful when hiking, mountain climbing or sprinting.
Hypershell exoskeleton: AI-controlled through the forest
The Hypershell Exoskeleton weighs around 1.8 kilograms and is strapped around the hips and connected to the thighs by ambitious hikers or athletes. The AI-controlled 400-watt motor detects movements and tries to support the person in his or her activity. In "Hyper Mode," forces of a whole horsepower and speeds of up to 12 km/h are said to be possible. In addition, the gadget helps with heavy luggage. According to the manufacturer, up to 30 kilograms can be compensated.
The skeleton's support can be variably adjusted on the side control surfaces. Alternatively, an app is available for download that displays data such as completed steps in addition to battery status and power mode.
The casing itself is protected against dust and splashing water, such as rain, according to the IP54 standard. The exoskeleton can be folded for transport, and the batteries are easy to replace. According to the manufacturer, one charge is suitable for around 16 miles (just under 26 kilometers) - but this value is likely to vary depending on the activity. The skeleton is said to take around 20 seconds to put on and take off again.
Those who already support now can already secure the first versions of the Skeleton on Kickstarter. Instead of the targeted purchase price of 599 US dollars, you only pay half. An expected delivery is given as September 2023.
However, since the quality of the final product varies with Kickstarter projects, caution is advised. We recommend waiting a little longer before buying. Nevertheless, the concept is very exciting and convincingly presented in the promotional video. We are curious.
To ensure that the exoskeleton doesn't get exhausted on the go, the Hypershell Go comes with two replaceable battery packs for up to 16 miles of power.
The Hypershell exoskeleton weighs about 1.8 kilograms, according to the manufacturer, but is said to provide up to 30 kilograms of relief.
For transport, the Hypershell can also be folded and attached to the hiking backpack or stowed in the trunk.
Strapped on, the Hypershell exoskeleton is said to be suitable for speeds of up to 12 km/h.
To ensure that the exoskeleton doesn't get exhausted on the go, the Hypershell Go comes with two replaceable battery packs for up to 16 miles of power.
The Hypershell exoskeleton weighs about 1.8 kilograms, according to the manufacturer, but is said to provide up to 30 kilograms of relief.
Exciting concept for real superpowers
Even though we can't fly through the air and compete against super villains with the Hypershell exoskeleton (yet), the concept is already promising. If you believe the manufacturer's specifications, the strap-on gadget should make mountain tours and sprints much easier and spur us on to new peak performances.
The exoskeleton is therefore probably particularly interesting for all those for whom these activities sometimes seem too strenuous or indisputable for health reasons. The size-adjustable design is supposed to cover 80 percent of adult sizes.
The hypershell project is already a complete success on Kickstarter. From the original target of 9,439 Euros, the campaign has already raised over 180,000 Euros. As a result, several milestones have already been reached, which increased the warranty to two years, for example, or a charging adapter went into development. The campaign is scheduled to end on April 6, 2023.
