What Exoskeletons Learned From One Relentless User

2026-04-01 · Source: IEEE Spectrum · Field: Technology & Digital — Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Emerging Technologies & Innovation · Depth: Intermediate, extended

Summary

Robert Woo, an architect paralyzed from the chest down in a 2007 construction accident, has spent 15 years as a test pilot and early adopter for advanced exoskeleton technology. His journey began after a crane accident on December 14, 2007, left him with a crushed spine and facing a life of paralysis. Initially despondent, Woo found purpose in regaining independence and later in contributing to bionics development. He has provided extensive feedback to companies like Ekso Bionics, ReWalk (now Lifeward), and Wandercraft, influencing design improvements such as better padding, abdominal supports, and hip-mounted battery packs. Woo was the first customer to purchase a ReWalk exoskeleton for home use in 2015 for $80,000, logging over a million steps. His efforts have significantly advanced the field, leading to the establishment of bionics programs at institutions like Mount Sinai Hospital and paving the way for thousands of people with spinal cord injuries to benefit from exoskeletons in rehabilitation and daily life.

Key takeaway

For product managers developing assistive robotics or medical devices, your design and engineering teams should actively integrate direct, detailed user feedback from individuals with lived experience. Robert Woo's contributions demonstrate that involving "super-mega users" early and continuously can accelerate product refinement, identify critical usability issues, and ultimately create more effective and adoptable solutions, even influencing core platform changes.

Key insights

User-driven feedback is critical for advancing complex assistive technologies like exoskeletons.

Principles

• Exoskeletons offer significant physiological and psychological benefits.
• Early prototypes require extensive user testing and iterative design.
• Self-balancing exoskeletons enhance user independence.

Method

Robert Woo's method involved rigorous testing of exoskeleton prototypes, identifying design flaws, and proposing concrete solutions based on his architectural background and lived experience, including detailed sketches and simulated failure modes.

In practice

• Seek user feedback from diverse, "super-mega" users.
• Prioritize comfort and safety in wearable robotics design.
• Integrate user experience into engineering development.

Topics

• Exoskeletons
• Robert Woo
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Wandercraft
• ReWalk Exoskeleton

Best for: Product Manager, Robotics Engineer, AI Product Manager, Research Scientist

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by IEEE Spectrum.