Exoskeletons enter the real world, from rescuers to the front line

Exoskeletons are being used by Seattle Mountain Rescue, IKEA, Ford, Boeing and Ukrainian soldiers to carry loads and cut fatigue. The sector is valued at around $500m and could double or triple in size by the mid-2030s.

• US rescuers are testing exoskeletons to speed up search operations
• IKEA, Ford, Boeing and Mazda Toyota use exoskeletons on warehouse and assembly lines
• Ukrainian troops use Hypershell to carry artillery shells with less fatigue
• The exoskeleton market is valued at about $500m, seen doubling or tripling by the 2030s