MIKEsuits

MIKEsuits is a line of modular wearable exosuits designed to augment human strength and endurance in industrial, medical, and assistive contexts. The system is built around a torso frame with detachable limb modules, powered and controlled by a compact battery pack and an onboard control unit. The suits employ a combination of passive supports and active actuators, with a sensor suite including position, torque, and safety sensors. Interchangeable modules allow users to configure the suit for different tasks, from upper-limb assistance to full-limb support. The user interface supports multiple control modes, including manual control, programmable assist profiles, and semi-autonomous operation in constrained environments. Safety features include automatic disengagement, torque limits, and emergency stop.

MIKEsuits were developed by the engineering firm MIKE Group in collaboration with research partners and entered the market in the mid-2010s. The platform is described as modular and scalable, with multiple model tiers offering increasing levels of actuation, range of motion, and autonomy. Some versions emphasize industrial lifting and repetitive motion mitigation, while others focus on mobility assistance for healthcare or emergency response scenarios.

Users and employers cite reduced fatigue and injury risk in repetitive tasks, but concerns have been raised about cost, training requirements, maintenance, and the need for ongoing oversight to ensure safe operation. Critics also point to the risk of overreliance on automation and privacy considerations due to body-worn sensors.

See also: wearable robotics, exoskeletons, assistive technology.