Abstract: Systems and devices for assistive mobility are described herein, e.g., for assisting those with reduced mobility to reduce energy used during gait and to reduce fatigue and loads on joints. In some instances, a walking assistive device, e.g., an exoskeleton, can be coupled to a user. The device can include a harness that can be coupled to a torso of the user and a support that can be coupled to a leg of the user. The device can also include an elastically deformable member that is coupled to the harness and the support that can expand during walking strides or other body movements to reduce muscle strain and augment the metabolic cost of walking. The elastically deformable member can store and release mechanical energy during phases of the gait cycle to provide additional torque to the biological torque generated at the hip joint.

Abstract: Systems and devices for assistive mobility are disclosed herein, e.g., for assisting those with reduced mobility to reduce energy used during gait and to reduce fatigue and loads on joints. In some embodiments, a walking assistive device, e.g., an exoskeleton, can be coupled to a user. The device can include a harness that can be coupled to a torso of the user and a support that can be coupled to a leg of the user. The device can also include an elastically deformable member that is coupled to the harness and the support that can expand during walking strides or other body movements to reduce muscle strain and augment the metabolic cost of walking. The elastically deformable member can store and release mechanical energy during phases of the gait cycle to provide additional torque to the biological torque generated at the hip joint.