NeoSomaTech
Active, passive or textile exoskeleton: what are the differences?
The answer in detail
The word exoskeleton covers three technical families. Active models contain a battery-powered motor: they add force to movement, mostly for walking and climbing. Passive models store energy in springs during a bend and return it, with no electricity.
Finally, support garments based on textile or cables guide and support the joint, without a rigid structure. These three families do not serve the same needs, and do not have the same regulatory constraints. It is therefore more useful to compare the families by use than by brand: the same need can be covered by two different families, at very different prices.
What the pages say
| Family | Catalog examples | Indicative prices |
|---|---|---|
| Active (motor, battery) | Hypershell Go X, Pro X, Carbon X, Ultra X; Dnsys X1; VIGX | 689 to 2,399 dollars, 999 to 1,999 euros |
| Passive (springs) | Ski-Mojo; Hapo back, shoulder, neck range | 699 euros; 640.80 to 4,200 euros |
| Textile (cables, fabric) | Stoko K1 and short; Imbrace Gen 2 | 338 to 388 dollars; 192 euros |
According to INRS, only robotized exoskeletons fall under Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC; mechanical models are excluded.
How to choose
- Define the need: strong walking assistance, support for a joint, or relief of a posture.
- To walk further uphill and carry less effort, look at an active model.
- For a specific posture at work or for skiing, look at a passive model.
- For daily, discreet wear, look at a support garment.
- Compare weight, any charging, upkeep and return conditions, before confirming the order.
Limits and precautions
- An active model needs charging and depends on a battery, with plane transport rules.
- A passive model is limited to a specific posture or movement.
- A textile supports less than a structure when the effort to take over is large.
- Stated assistance levels are the manufacturers', with no independent measurement.
To go further, read our article on active exoskeleton versus biomechanical support and our question on the difference with a textile exosuit.
Key takeaways
An active exoskeleton uses a motor, a passive one springs, a textile one cables or a support fabric. The first assists the most but weighs and costs more; the other two are simpler and need no charging. Choose by use, compare return conditions and check figures on official pages. An active model is mostly justified for walking on hills; for a workstation or skiing, a passive or textile one is often enough.