Alphabet, the giant behind Google, Youtube and DeepMind, has several secret projects. One of them is Skip, a wearable technology startup that emerged from the shadows this week to announce a partnership with outdoor clothing specialist Arc’teryx. The result? Motorized pants that use a soft exoskeleton.
The technology, called MO/GO, short for Mountain Goat, is a hybrid soft/rigid system designed to aid the user’s mobility and give them momentum while walking. Instead of a person walking, MO/GO provides 40% energy assistance to the quadriceps and hamstringswhile also relieving the workload on the knees. With a total weight, including pants and system, of about 3 kilos.
The technology is now available to purchase or to rent (about 75 euros for 8 hours) and there are plans to begin shipping later this year. According to Skip CEO Katrhyn Zealand, it all came about when she heard the story of a woman who hadn’t climbed a flight of stairs in 25 years, only to do so twice in quick succession while using the technology. “But the leap from ‘it works in the lab,’ to what would be a viable consumer product that people would use every day, was a usability challenge.”
Skip initially explored multiple apparel partnerships, eventually settling on launching just one. Arc’teryx “ticked all the boxes,” according to Zealand. The company is currently in clinical trials to test the effectiveness of the system to help conditions such as Parkinson’s.
However, the system is likely still years away from being classified as a medical device. In the short term, Skip hopes to have his system covered by the US healthcare system. And increasing production will also help reduce the price over time.
MO/GO have Knee-high motors with a battery that lasts about 3 hours with extreme assistance. The good thing is that they recharge automatically during a downhill walk. The system also allows you to control the level of assistance you receive. The movement software with which it has been programmed becomes smarter with each step you take, recognizing your movement patterns, weight, step length… It adapts in real time to any changes in activity and walking style that you encounter.