Hypershell’s X Ultra Exoskeleton Is An Electric Bike For Your Legs

Hypershell X Ultra exoskeleton

Hypershell

Hypershell has announced the Hypershell X Ultra wearable exoskeleton at the IFA tech show.

The Hypershell X Ultra tops off the company’s range of exoskeletons, and features higher power motors and a lighter frame, made possible through the use of materials like titanium and carbon fiber.

There’s a good chance you may not have come across Hypershells range at all, though. Its exoskeletons use motors that sit in enclosures by the wearer’s hips to augment the movement of their own legs, and take some of the strain off their muscles. The idea is you can walk for longer, up steeper hills or even mountains. And more.

Hypershell says a charge of the battery will last up to 30km, although range drops substantially at the higher settings. Two batteries are included as standard. And the motors can generate up to a collective 1000w of force according to the company’s figures.

More electric bike than motorbike, the Hypershell Ultra X senses when a person is walking or running, then applying assistive power with each step, rather than attempting to force resting legs into movement.

“Our goal with Hypershell X Ultra is to remove physical barriers and give people the confidence to say ‘yes’ to that mountain peak, or that extra mile,” says Kelvin Sun, Hypershell CEO.

“It’s all about enabling personal achievement and ensuring the joy of adventure is open to everyone, regardless of their natural endurance.”

The Hypershell X Ultra isn’t just for on-foot activities either. It is also intended for cyclists, and uses algorithmic intelligence to determine when you are running, walking, or cycling. The Adaptive Motion Recognition mode actually goes further, with specific tweaks for walking up or downhill, down stairs or at a “race walking” pace. There are 12 contextual modes in total.

What you actually control manually, though, is the strength of the assistance, and whether to use the Eco of Hyper mode. Either can be powerful, but Hyper has a more aggressive character, encouraging you to move faster and more deliberately, while Eco lets the Hypershell X Ultra’s influence sit more invisibly under your normal walking pattern. At lower power settings, anyway.

Using the phone app, the power can be adjusted from 0 to 100, while a side button allows for changes with less finesse. A small multi-color LED indicator here also shows the battery level and the current mode.

The Hypershell X Ultra can also use its motors in the opposite way. Its fitness mode adds resistance, making your legs work more with each step. The ISO mode increases resistance as you raise your leg or move it back, an effect similar to using a resistance band.

The Hypershell X Ultra is available now direct from the company for $1999. And if that’s too steep, Hypershell’s existing range starts at $899.