Designed for all day use, the battery-powered ReWalk system features a light, wearable exoskeleton with motors at the hip and knee joints. The ‘ReWalker’ controls movement using subtle changes in his/her centre of gravity. A forward tilt of the upper body is sensed by the system which initiates the first step, and repeated body shifting generates a sequence of steps which mimics a functional natural gait of the legs.
The expense of the mobility aid is one of the factors delaying the widespread adoption of the ReWalk system, however, Rewalk Robotics hopes insurance companies will extend cover to help other people with similar disabilities.