Exoskeletons are nothing new. They’ve long been used in many industrial applications to aid workers in physically demanding tasks. The Dnsys Z1 takes that industrial wearable and adapts it for use in recreational activities.
A knee exoskeleton for outdoor adventure, the wearable is designed to give a significant power boost to the calves and thighs, all while taking off a lot of pressure from the knees. This makes it ideal for various outdoor recreational activities that put serious demand on your lower extremities, from hiking and cycling to skiing and more.
The Dnsys Z1 is a knee-support exoskeleton designed specially to ease pressure on the knees. Equipped with a 450W motor that produces 1.2 horsepower and 50 Nm/kg of torque, the device delivers a 50 percent power boost to the thighs and calves, reducing burden on those muscles by up to 77 pounds. According to the outfit, the device can smartly detect your movement and provide the corresponding motorized assistance to help you execute it, minimizing muscle fatigue for those challenging hikes and climbs. Aside from boosting leg power, it also reduces the amount of stress your knees endure, with the outfit claiming to eliminate up to 200 percent of bodyweight knee pressure by applying lifting force when it detects the knees are about to absorb impact. It doesn’t just come in handy when climbing elevation, by the way, as it can also kick in during descent, helping ensure smoother travel on the way down to help minimize any injuries.
While it probably won’t be allowed to be used in official sports tournaments, those who do sports recreationally should find them helpful, too. Not only will they help with all that running and lateral movement, the device can supposedly help you jump higher by making your movements feel 44 pounds lighter.
The Dnsys Z1 can recognize walking, running, jumping, squatting, sitting, and standing motions, automatically tailoring its motor output to assist in each one correctly, It can also adapt to flat ground, slopes, stairs, and various types of terrain. According to the outfit, it’s AI-powered, so it can learn your gait better over time, ensuring more personalized assistance as it gets to know your movements better. The whole thing is powered by an integrated battery rated at three hours of operation, with a regenerative function that allows it to recharge when you’re walking downhill. Alternatively, you can plug it in to a USB-C power bank for charge, with fast charging support that lets it fill up to 20 percent capacity in just eight minutes. The battery is swappable, too, if you’d rather plug in a fresh one.
According to the outfit, the exoskeleton has a three-point support structure that ensures a stable experience for users, all while being able to put on in just 15 seconds, so you can pull it out of the bag and get running in a jiffy. Other features include an impressively light weight of just 1.5 pounds, a strap system that secures it to the legs and waist, an adjustable fit, IP54 waterproof rating, and a companion app to monitor the device status in real time.
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running for the Dnsys Z1. You can reserve a unit for pledges starting at $899.
