Virgo Wave / UPR
Official evidence describes Support Jacket Bb+ as a back-support exoskeleton/assist suit for work efficiency and reduced back strain. Keep categories focused on industrial back support.
INOMER
Official evidence describes INOMER as building wearable robots to support and guide body movement, with inoGear HE-1 and walking rehabilitation research references. Keep as a medical/rehab draft pending final source review.
Harmonic Drive
Harmonic Drive develops and manufactures high-precision gear systems and servo actuators. Their strain wave gears (often called ‘Harmonic Drives’) are an industry standard for robotic joint actuation due to their high torque density and zero-backlash characteristics. They provide enabling technology for high-end medical and industrial exoskeletons where precise positioning and weight reduction are critical.
Tacle
Tacle develops wearable assist systems designed to reduce physical load in industrial and caregiving environments. Their focus is on ergonomic mechanical aids that support the back and lower limbs during repetitive bending and lifting tasks. They aim to provide intuitive, wearable solutions that enhance worker productivity and well-being.
JTEKT
JTEKT, part of the Toyota Group, develops the J-PAS (JTEKT Power Assist Suit) series. These wearable robotic systems are designed to reduce the physical burden on workers in manufacturing and elderly care. The product line includes active systems for back support and lumbar assistance, leveraging JTEKT’s expertise in steering and drive systems to provide smooth […]
Toyoda Gosei
Toyoda Gosei develops ‘e-Rubber’, a next-generation smart polymer that acts as both a sensor and an actuator. They utilize this technology to create soft robotic wearable devices, including rehabilitation gloves for hand therapy. Their systems aim to provide lightweight, highly flexible assistance for finger movement recovery after stroke or hand injury.
Skeletonics
Skeletonics designs and builds giant mechanical suits that amplify the wearer’s movements through a complex link mechanism. These systems are non-powered (fully mechanical) and are used primarily for entertainment, events, and performance art. The company focuses on the aesthetic and expressive potential of human-machine interaction.
Daiya Industry
Daiya Industry develops medical and industrial support wear. Their ‘DARWING’ brand includes passive and active assistive suits. Notable products include the Pneumatic Power Assist Glove for hand rehabilitation and various fabric-based support suits (SoftExo) for back and limb support. They emphasize the integration of textile technology with pneumatic and mechanical assistance.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has a historical interest in wearable robotics, particularly for high-stress and hazardous environments. They developed a ‘Power Assist Suit’ (PAS) exhibited in the mid-2010s, intended for use in nuclear disaster recovery operations. While MHI remains a major industrial force, their standalone commercial exoskeleton development is reported as historical or project-based research.
Honda
Honda developed the Walking Assist Device for gait rehabilitation. The hip-powered system assists users in improving stride length and walking speed. The technology is informed by Honda’s research into bipedal robotics.