AI-Powered Exoskeleton Restores Freedom and Independence for Wheelchair Users
New York, NY – May 24, 2025 – A groundbreaking AI-powered exoskeleton is transforming the lives of millions of wheelchair users worldwide, offering unprecedented freedom and independence. Wandercraft’s Personal Exoskeleton, a hands-free, AI-driven mobility device, is enabling individuals with severe mobility impairments to stand, walk, and navigate their daily lives with newfound confidence. As clinical trials expand in New York and New Jersey, the technology is poised to redefine mobility for the estimated 80 million people globally who rely on wheelchairs, marking a significant leap forward in assistive robotics.
A New Era of Mobility
Wandercraft’s Personal Exoskeleton, currently in clinical trials, builds on the success of its predecessor, the Atalante X, which has already facilitated over a million steps monthly in more than 100 clinics worldwide. Unlike traditional wheelchairs, this exoskeleton uses NVIDIA AI to adapt instantly to users’ movements, providing smooth, stable walking on varied surfaces like sidewalks and carpets. Controlled via a joystick, the device is designed for daily use at home, work, and in the community, offering a versatile solution for people with diverse disabilities, including spinal cord injuries, strokes, and neuromuscular conditions like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Caroline Laubach, a spinal stroke survivor and test pilot for Wandercraft, shared her transformative experience with Fox News: “When I’m in the exoskeleton, I feel more free than I do in my daily life. It gives me the opportunity to walk around and talk to people at eye level. I don’t have to look up at people all the time. It makes me feel more visible and able to connect with others.” Her story underscores the device’s ability to restore not just physical mobility but also social and emotional well-being, allowing users to engage at eye level and participate more fully in society.
How It Works: AI and Robotics in Action
The Personal Exoskeleton is a marvel of engineering, equipped with 12 degrees of freedom, 12 motors, and an array of sensors that process data at 1,000 Hz to ensure stability and balance. Unlike earlier models, it requires no crutches or external support, thanks to advanced algorithms that mimic human walking patterns. “It’s like reproducing the performance of the human brain,” said Nicolas Simon, Wandercraft’s co-founder, at the AI for Good Global Summit 2024. The device’s AI, inspired by robotics advancements like those from Boston Dynamics, adjusts in real-time to users’ movements, enabling them to navigate complex environments, with future updates expected to include stair-climbing and vision sensors for obstacle avoidance.
Wandercraft’s mission, rooted in personal stories like those of Simon’s brother and co-founder Jean-Louis Constanza’s son, both diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, is to move beyond the centuries-old wheelchair. “The wheelchair is an old technology,” Simon noted. “Walking is a miracle of evolution, and our exoskeletons empower users to reclaim that.” The device not only enhances mobility but also improves health outcomes by promoting blood flow, bone density, and overall physical well-being, reducing risks associated with prolonged wheelchair use, such as osteoporosis and pressure sores.
Clinical Trials and Future Accessibility
The Personal Exoskeleton is undergoing trials at Wandercraft’s new therapy center, At Walk in New York, with plans for FDA approval to make it widely available. The company is recruiting adults with motor spinal cord injuries (SCI) at or above the T6 vertebra, requiring a physically able companion for sessions but offering a volunteer network for those without one. Wandercraft aims to secure Medicare coverage to ensure affordability, addressing the needs of the 236,000 to 327,000 Americans living with serious SCIs.
Charlotte Fairbank, a wheelchair tennis Paralympian and test pilot, praised the exoskeleton’s impact: “I can’t move my legs at all. Wandercraft has enabled me to walk again. The health benefits it gives me—blood flow, bone density, just being able to stand up and feel better in my body—there is hope for us to be somehow walking again.” Her demonstration at the 2024 AI for Good Summit showcased the device’s versatility, switching between modes and speeds with ease.
A Broader Impact on Society
The exoskeleton aligns with global goals like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 10, which focuses on reducing inequalities. By fostering social inclusion and economic participation, it breaks down barriers for people with disabilities. Posts on X reflect excitement about the technology, with @Ronald_vanLoon calling it a “game-changer for accessibility” and @I_Am_Winter highlighting its potential to “help people in wheelchairs stand up and walk.”
As Wandercraft scales production to lower costs, the Personal Exoskeleton could become a standard mobility solution, much like wheelchairs today. With its blend of AI, robotics, and human-centered design, this technology is not just about walking—it’s about restoring dignity, independence, and the simple joys of daily life, from hugging a loved one to reaching a high shelf.