'Soft' exoskeleton could lighten the load for soldiers: Flexible suit saves energy when carrying heavy packs

Soldiers are expected to carry heavy packs across rough terrain, sometimes under fire. Now engineers have created a flexible exosuit designed to make their lives slightly easier because it reduces the energy cost of walking when carrying heavy load. The textile suit, using cables and motors, could also be used by hikers and emergency professionals who are first on the scene of an incident. Unlike the exosuits seen in superhero films, engineers at Harvard University used fabric to build their suit. By comparison, rigid exoskeletons are heavier and can interfere with the natural movement of the joints, causing the wearer to change the way they walk.