Rise of wearable robotics: How exoskeletons are powering the next generation of outdoor exploration
From hikers in the Alps to engineers in Tokyo, exoskeletons — once a sci-fi fantasy — are becoming a practical tool for enhancing endurance, reducing fatigue, and making physical movement more accessible. Now, this technology is making its way to the UAE's dynamic outdoor scene, from desert trails to Wadi hikes.
One of the companies leading the charge is Hypershell, a frontier-tech innovator that has recently made global waves with its AI-powered exoskeletons. These lightweight wearables assist the lower body, enabling users to walk longer distances, navigate steep terrain, or simply enjoy movement with less strain.
While the tech is already in use by volunteers and trail conservation teams abroad — including at National Trails Day® in the U.S. — the concept is just beginning to find resonance in the Middle East, where nature exploration meets high temperatures and rugged landscapes. Hypershell's signature Carbon X model, for example, delivers over 17 kilometers of walking support per charge, reducing leg fatigue by up to 30% — making it ideal for outdoor workers, hikers, and even casual weekend explorers.
What sets this new generation of exoskeletons apart is their AI motion recognition engine. Rather than forcing a rigid structure on the user, the device learns your posture, adapts to stairs, slopes, and uneven ground, and responds in real time. Combined with foldable form factors and lightweight materials like carbon fiber and titanium, the devices blend into outdoor gear seamlessly.
And for those in the UAE curious to try it for themselves, Hypershell is expected to launch its first physical venue in the country later this year — allowing residents to explore the technology up close, experience demos, and engage with the growing community around wearable mobility.
Whether you're scaling a dune in Liwa, tackling a hiking trail in Fujairah, or simply looking to reduce strain during long walking commutes, robotic assistance may soon be part of your everyday kit.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai: New app to help officials report public cleanliness violations
Select government officials will now be able to document public cleanliness violations on a newly launched app. Titled Eltizam, the platform was designed by Dubai Municipality to maintain the position of the emirate as one of the cleanest cities in the world. Authorised users can take photos of violations, automatically capture their location, add contextual notes, and record breaches of cleanliness regulations in real time on the app. A key milestone in DM's digital transformation efforts, Eltizam shows the city's vision of fostering shared responsibility between officials and the community to protect urban aesthetics, public health, and environmental sustainability. 'Public cleanliness is not a technical issue alone — it is a civic value and a shared commitment,' said Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality. He added: 'Eltizam reinforces that every official and every citizen plays a role in shaping a sustainable, liveable Dubai for generations to come.' He added that the app reflects the vision of a 'pioneering city where technology and regulation work together' to protect Dubai's urban appeal. Earlier this year, Dubai secured the top position globally for city cleanliness for the fifth year in a row as per the Global Power City Index (GPCI) report issued by the Institute for Urban Strategies at the Mori Memorial Foundation in Japan. First phase In its first phase, Eltizam will focus on eight public cleanliness violations, categorised as negative behaviours that distort the city's image. These include: By digitising the enforcement process and giving judicial officers smart tools, the app will focus on proactive monitoring and greater transparency in maintaining the city's visual and aesthetic appeal.
Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Inside UAE's first commercial factory for drones that can feed fish, detect palm tree diseases
From feeding fish off Abu Dhabi's coast to potentially delivering vegetables between islands in the Maldives, a Dubai-based manufacturer is quietly building some of the world's most versatile drones — entirely in the UAE. Inside EANAN's spotless factory at Dubai South, rows of engineers and technicians work with the precision of watchmakers, assembling drones that can plant seeds on mountainsides, soon replace donkeys for mountain deliveries in India, detect methane leaks in gas pipelines, and even identify disease in palm trees from the air. 'We are the first factory to manufacture drones for commercial purposes in the UAE,' said Mishaal Al Marzooqi, Director of Business Development. 'Eighty-five per cent of our drone components are produced here. The rest, such as autopilot systems, we currently source internationally, but our goal is full production in the UAE.' Drones on land, water and air One of EANAN's flagship models, the Ghaith Feeder Seeder Drone, was built to automate both fish feeding and agricultural seeding missions, even over mountainous peaks. On Dalma Island, fish farming has long depended on boats — a process that burns fuel, takes manpower, and is slowed by strong sea currents. EANAN's drone can feed the fish with pinpoint accuracy, carrying up to 600kg of feed per day, three times a week. In Khor Fakkan, the same platform is being prepared for aerial seeding, allowing vegetation to be planted in rugged, inaccessible mountain terrain. 'We have flown all the drones and done the tests,' said Al Marzooqi. 'Even for the fish cages, we built an actual cage to try it. We are just waiting for permits from the General Civil Aviation Authority, and expect them very soon.' From donkeys to drones EANAN is already in talks for exporting to international markets. In India, the company has plans to replace traditional animal-based delivery in remote mountains with drones capable of carrying 40kg payloads safely to villages. The Khattaf, a modular last-mile delivery drone, will soon also be tested in the Maldives, transporting fresh produce between islands. 'We're going there in September,' Al Marzooqi said. 'It's a faster, more sustainable solution for delivery in challenging terrains.' Heavy lifters made in the UAE The company's heavy-lift models include the 700kg Sa'faar, capable of carrying 200 kilograms, and the foldable-arm Rikaz, which can lift 50 to 200kg. Sa'faar is undergoing an upgrade to replace its 223kg battery system with a turbo generator, aiming to extend flight time from 15 minutes to an hour — an advancement EANAN plans to showcase at the Dubai Airshow in November. 'What makes us proud — and makes the UAE proud — is that this is built here,' Al Marzooqi added. Beyond logistics, EANAN has developed drones for environmental and industrial monitoring. The OptoSky platform uses a high-spectral camera to assess plant health and detect diseases such as palm tree blight before they spread — potentially protecting the UAE's four million palm trees. 'You can measure the temperature of the palm,' explained Al Marzooqi. 'If it's low, it means it has this disease, so you can detect it early.' The Sky VTOL methane detector is designed for the oil and gas industry, flying over pipelines to pinpoint leaks through thermal imaging. A factory of precision In EANAN's wire harness section, every cable is designed, labelled, and organised before being fitted into a drone. 'Even a simple thing like wiring needs a lot of work,' said Al Marzooqi. 'We test for accuracy, speed, and technical ability. Every kilogram matters in flight.' The factory also designs and assembles its own batteries, 3D-prints components, shapes landing gear tubes with bending machines, and paints drones in-house. 'We're creating solutions for things that don't [yet] exist,' he said. For Al Marzooqi, drones are more than a job. A mechatronics engineer, he spent 15 years in the water and power sector before turning his passion for unmanned aerial systems into a career. In 2014, he built his own medical delivery drone for the UAE's Drones for Good Award. 'When I heard there was a drone factory, I knew I had to join,' he said. He later earned master's degrees in entrepreneurial leadership and innovation and change management, steering him toward the aviation industry. Looking ahead: Air taxis and space EANAN is also exploring future mobility. In partnership with a US aerospace firm, the company is co-developing a bladeless vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, with models planned for logistics and air taxi use. Another long-term project is a hydrogen-powered detonation engine aimed at launching micro-satellites into orbit from drones. 'Today, we're focused on proving ourselves with heavy-lift drones. Then we can go to air taxis,' Al Marzooqi explained. EANAN has signed agreements with Dubai Future Foundation, Dubai Air Navigation Services, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, and Dubai University, and has been recognised by the Ministry of Economy as one of the UAE's top future companies. 'In five years, we envision this factory as the beating heart of drone innovation in the GCC,' said Al Marzooqi. 'Our dream is not just to manufacture drones, but to inspire a new generation of innovators and position our country as a global leader in the drone industry.'
Gulf Business
3 hours ago
- Gulf Business
OSN, The Trade Desk launch MENA streaming ad partnership
Image: OSN website/ For illustrative purposes only MENA entertainment provider OSN has partnered with US-based advertising technology firm The Trade Desk to open the broadcaster's programmatic video inventory to advertisers, the companies said. The deal makes The Trade Desk the first demand-side platform (DSP) to give brands direct access to OSNtv's connected television and addressable video-on-demand inventory, covering Arabic and international content including HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery titles and OSN original productions. 'At OSN, we're committed to innovation that enhances the advertising experience while maintaining the highest standards for our viewers,' Hamid Davari, OSN's director of advertising, said in a statement. 'Partnering with The Trade Desk on our Advanced TV products allows us to open our premium inventory to brands in a way that is transparent, data-rich, and performance-focused,' he added. OSN, The Trade Desk aim to empower advertisers to make smarter, more data-driven decisions Terry Kane, The Dubai-based broadcaster, which operates in 22 countries, was the first in the region to introduce an on-demand video service and holds exclusive rights to HBO programming in MENA. It said the partnership combines its content library and direct-to-home viewer base with The Trade Desk's buying tools to expand access to the region's premium streaming audience.
