Designing Exoskeletons for Older Adults — From Human-Centered to Engineering

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 Creating exoskeletons that older adults want to wear requires engineering and human-centered design to work together. Engineering priorities include lightweight materials and low-profile structures, soft contact interfaces to reduce pressure, and adaptive control systems that adjust assistance timing and magnitude using gait, EMG, or IMU data. Safety features such as torque limits, overload protection, and fall-detection shutoff provide essential redundancy.


Human-centered aspects focus on donning convenience, non-stigmatizing appearance, and caregiver-friendly maintenance. Aesthetic choices that avoid a clinical look, one-button mode switching, and remote support increase acceptance. Involving seniors and therapists in co-design and early prototyping ensures the product aligns with daily-life needs and supports long-term adherence.

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