Eva exoskeleton gets a real-world test run

Published 12.19.24

The robotics team at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition recently took one of their exoskeletons for a test drive in the outside world.

A video of the first out-of-lab test of IHMC’s Eva exoskeleton conducted in late Fall 2024 is now available. Eva is designed to help those who work in hazardous environments and need to carry heavy personal protective equipment. This collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, explores how wearable robotic systems can be incorporated into nuclear remediation projects.

The collaboration is aimed at addressing the healthspan issues of a specialized, aging workforce, but there potentially are a host of other applications for the work.

This first out-of-lab test of Eva is important because it demonstrates the ability of the device to operate outside of controlled environments, which is a critical first step to eventual field usage

“The ability to wear it yourself, take it out into the world, and understand what the end user is going to feel is tremendously helpful for future development,” says IHMC Research Scientist Jared Li, who wore the exoskeleton in the test.

 

IHMC is a not-for-profit research institute of the Florida University System where researchers pioneer science and technology aimed at advancing the human condition. IHMC researchers and staff collaborate extensively with the government, industry, and academia to pioneer new science and develop breakthrough technologies. IHMC research partners have included: DARPA, the National Science Foundation, NASA, Army, Navy, Air Force, National Institutes of Health, IBM, Microsoft, Honda, Boeing, Lockheed, and many others.