Ekso Bionics
Corporate brand
UnclaimedEkso Bionics develops powered and assistive exoskeletons for neurorehabilitation, personal mobility, and industrial work.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Ekso Bionics is a United States-based developer and manufacturer of wearable robotic and exoskeleton systems. Its products are designed to support people with lower-limb weakness or paralysis and to reduce physical strain during industrial work. The company’s health portfolio serves rehabilitation institutions, clinicians, and selected individuals seeking greater mobility after spinal cord injury, stroke, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis, or related conditions. Its industrial portfolio focuses primarily on upper-body assistance for repetitive or elevated work. The business began in 2005 as Berkeley ExoWorks, founded by Homayoon Kazerooni, Russ Angold, and Nathan Harding, who were associated with the University of California, Berkeley’s Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory. Early projects included ExoHiker and ExoClimber, which were intended to help users carry substantial loads. In 2007 the company adopted the name Berkeley Bionics. It subsequently developed the Human Universal Load Carrier, or HULC, a hydraulically powered lower-body and load-carrying exoskeleton intended principally for military and logistics applications. Berkeley Bionics entered into an exclusive licensing and development arrangement with Lockheed Martin for HULC in 2009. Alongside military and industrial research, Berkeley Bionics developed eLEGS, an intelligent lower-extremity exoskeleton intended to help wheelchair users stand and walk with support from crutches or a walker. The system was renamed Ekso after the company changed its name to Ekso Bionics in 2011. Ekso became the company’s first commercially available health product and established its focus on robotic-assisted gait rehabilitation. Ekso’s medical systems use sensors, software, powered joints, and therapist-controlled training modes to help users practice standing, weight shifting, stepping, turning, and other gait activities. The company’s EksoGT platform introduced adaptive assistance, allowing the level of powered support to differ between a patient’s two sides. Later software added pre-gait exercises, less constrained walking, patient tracking, and increasingly personalized therapist guidance. In 2019 the company introduced EksoNR, a successor to EksoGT with a touchscreen controller and broader rehabilitation functions. U.S. regulatory clearances subsequently expanded its use to acquired brain injury and multiple sclerosis, in addition to earlier stroke and spinal cord injury indications. Ekso Bionics has also developed or commercialized upper-body systems. EksoVest, later renamed Ekso EVO, was a spring-assisted industrial device intended to support the arms during overhead and chest-level tasks without batteries. EksoUE, developed with Johns Hopkins University, adapted passive shoulder assistance for healthcare and therapy environments. The company also acquired the ZeroG tool-support system from Equipois in 2015, adding an industrial robotic arm designed to offset the weight of heavy tools. A major strategic expansion occurred in December 2022, when Ekso Bionics acquired Parker Hannifin’s Human Motion & Control business unit, including the Indego Therapy and Indego Personal product lines. The transaction gave Ekso a personal exoskeleton offering for people with spinal cord injury who want to walk at home and in the community, complementing its institution-focused rehabilitation products. Indego Personal later received U.S. Medicare coding and reimbursement determinations, with initial reimbursement reported in 2024. The company’s market positioning combines medical-device development, rehabilitation technology, wearable robotics, and workplace ergonomics. Its health products are generally used under clinical supervision or with trained support persons, while its industrial products are intended to reduce fatigue and musculoskeletal strain rather than provide autonomous movement. Ekso has received recognition for its technology, including inclusion in Time’s 2010 list of notable innovations and Wired’s 2010 gadget rankings. The company remains active in health and industrial exoskeleton markets.
History
Ekso Bionics was established in 2005 as Berkeley ExoWorks by Homayoon Kazerooni, Russ Angold, and Nathan Harding, researchers connected with the University of California, Berkeley. The founders worked on wearable robotic systems intended to augment human strength and endurance. Early devices included ExoHiker and ExoClimber, which were designed to help users carry heavy loads. In 2007 the company became Berkeley Bionics. Its research then expanded into military and industrial applications, most notably HULC, the Human Universal Load Carrier. HULC was a hydraulically powered, untethered exoskeleton capable of carrying heavy loads while reducing the wearer’s metabolic burden. The system was publicly introduced in 2009, when Berkeley Bionics entered an exclusive licensing and development agreement with Lockheed Martin. HULC subsequently continued under military-oriented development outside the company’s principal healthcare business. Berkeley Bionics also pursued medical mobility technology. In 2010 it demonstrated eLEGS, an intelligent lower-extremity exoskeleton that enabled selected wheelchair users to stand and take steps with assistive devices. The company changed its name to Ekso Bionics in 2011, and eLEGS was renamed Ekso. The product became the foundation for the company’s clinical rehabilitation business. Ekso suits received U.S. Class I registration for hospital use and European CE marking in 2012. The medical platform evolved through the addition of adaptive assistance and clinical software. In 2013, Variable Assist allowed the device to provide different levels of powered support to each side of a patient’s body. This was intended to help therapists challenge stronger limbs while supporting weaker ones. The company went public in 2014 and continued developing both rehabilitation products and industrial prototypes. In 2015 it acquired ZeroG from Equipois, adding a spring-loaded robotic tool arm that transfers the weight of heavy tools to a supporting structure. EksoGT became a significant clinical product. In 2016 it received FDA clearance for rehabilitation use with stroke patients and certain people with spinal cord injury. In 2017 SmartAssist expanded the software with pre-gait exercises, less restricted walking, patient-specific settings, and clinical progress tracking through Ekso Pulse. In 2019 Ekso Bionics introduced EksoNR, a next-generation system with a touchscreen controller and expanded modes for weight shifting, marching, squats, side tapping, backward walking, side-stepping, resistance, and walking outside a programmed trajectory. FDA clearance followed for acquired brain injury in 2020 and multiple sclerosis in 2021. The company also developed upper-body systems. EksoVest was introduced for industrial overhead work, using spring assistance rather than batteries. It was later renamed Ekso EVO. EksoUE, announced in 2019 and initially launched to selected customers in 2020, adapted passive shoulder assistance for clinical and therapeutic settings. Another important product family originated at Vanderbilt University’s Center for Intelligent Mechatronics. Parker Hannifin obtained an exclusive license for the Vanderbilt exoskeleton in 2012 and commercialized it as Indego. Indego Therapy was developed for supervised rehabilitation, while Indego Personal was intended for paraplegic users in homes and communities with assistance from a trained support person. FDA indications for the Indego family expanded over time to cover additional spinal cord injury levels and, for the therapy device, hemiplegia following stroke. In December 2022 Ekso Bionics acquired Parker Hannifin’s Human Motion & Control business unit, bringing the Indego products into its portfolio. The company subsequently pursued broader access for Indego Personal in the United States. Medicare coding was approved in late 2023, a payment level was determined in April 2024, and the company announced receipt of initial CMS reimbursement in August 2024. In January 2024, Ekso also introduced GaitCoach software to provide therapists with more detailed guidance and feedback during gait training. Across its history, Ekso Bionics has moved from university-derived load-carrying research toward a dual-market model. Its health business emphasizes neurorehabilitation and personal mobility, while Ekso Works addresses industrial ergonomics and tool handling. The company’s products are assistive systems rather than general-purpose autonomous robots, and their use commonly depends on clinical assessment, training, or a support person.
- 2024
GaitCoach introduced and Medicare reimbursement advanced
[1]Ekso launched GaitCoach software and reported initial CMS reimbursement for Indego Personal after U.S. coding and payment determinations.
- 2022
Indego business acquired from Parker Hannifin
[1]The acquisition brought Indego Therapy and Indego Personal into Ekso Bionics.
- 2019
EksoNR launched
[1]EksoNR succeeded EksoGT as the company’s next-generation neurorehabilitation platform.
- 2015
Acquired ZeroG
[1]The company acquired the ZeroG tool-support system from Equipois.
- 2014
Became a public company
[1]Ekso Bionics became publicly traded.
- 2012
Hospital registration and European certification
[1]Ekso suits received U.S. Class I registration for hospital use and CE marking in the European Union.
- 2011
Adopted the Ekso Bionics name
[1]Berkeley Bionics changed its corporate name to Ekso Bionics and renamed eLEGS as Ekso.
- 2009
HULC introduced and licensed to Lockheed Martin
[1]Berkeley Bionics publicly presented its Human Universal Load Carrier and entered an exclusive development and licensing arrangement with Lockheed Martin.
- 2007
Renamed Berkeley Bionics
[1]The company adopted the Berkeley Bionics name as it expanded its exoskeleton development work.
- 2005
Company founded as Berkeley ExoWorks
[1]Homayoon Kazerooni, Russ Angold, and Nathan Harding founded the company in connection with Berkeley robotics research.
Products and positioning
A wearable-robotics and medical-device company focused on restoring or supporting mobility and reducing physical strain through powered and passive exoskeleton technology.
Neurorehabilitation exoskeleton · 2019
EksoNR
EksoNR is Ekso Bionics’ principal lower-limb rehabilitation exoskeleton. It is designed for supervised gait training across activities such as standing, weight shifting, marching, squats, stepping, turning, backward walking, side-stepping, and walking with resistance. It evolved from eLEGS and EksoGT and incorporates the EksoView controller, therapist-configurable software, and assistance modes intended to adapt to a patient’s progress. Its U.S. cleared uses include rehabilitation involving spinal cord injury, stroke, acquired brain injury, and multiple sclerosis.
Clinical rehabilitation exoskeleton · 2016
Ekso Indego Therapy
Ekso Indego Therapy is a modular powered exoskeleton for rehabilitation institutions. It supports sit-to-stand, walking, and stand-to-sit activities under the guidance of trained clinicians. The product originated from Vanderbilt University research and was commercialized by Parker Hannifin before becoming part of Ekso Bionics through the 2022 acquisition of Parker’s Human Motion & Control business. Its adjustable configuration and therapy software are intended to support users at different stages of recovery.
Personal mobility exoskeleton · 2016
Ekso Indego Personal
Ekso Indego Personal is intended for eligible people with paraplegia who want to stand and walk in their homes and communities. It uses a modular wearable design and Motion+ software to support sitting, standing, walking, and returning to a seated position. Use involves a trained support person, and the system is designed to work with many wheelchairs and vehicle seating situations. U.S. Medicare coding and reimbursement decisions expanded its potential access beginning in 2023 and 2024.
Industrial upper-body exoskeleton · 2018
Ekso EVO
Ekso EVO, formerly called EksoVest, is a passive upper-body exoskeleton for industrial work. Spring-powered assistance supports the arms and shoulders during chest-level and overhead tasks without relying on batteries or charging. The product is intended to reduce fatigue and physical strain during repetitive work and to help employers address ergonomic risks. It represents Ekso’s industrial focus on augmenting workers rather than automating their jobs.
Healthcare upper-body assist device · 2019
EksoUE
EksoUE is a passive, spring-assisted shoulder and upper-body device developed with Johns Hopkins University. It is intended for use in healthcare and therapy settings by qualified professionals. The non-tethered design and tool-free adjustment allow users to move between environments while wearing it, distinguishing it from larger fixed rehabilitation systems. It is registered as a Class I medical device in the United States.
Military and industrial load-carrying exoskeleton · 2009
HULC
The Human Universal Load Carrier was an untethered, hydraulically powered exoskeleton developed by Berkeley Bionics before the company adopted the Ekso Bionics name. It was designed to help an operator carry heavy loads and reduce the energy required for load-bearing tasks. The system could also support attachments such as a lift-assist configuration. Its military-oriented development was licensed to Lockheed Martin in 2009.
Robotic tool-support system · 2015
ZeroG
ZeroG is a spring-loaded robotic arm that supports heavy tools used on aerial work platforms, scissor lifts, scaffolding, and similar structures. Rather than carrying the tool’s weight directly, the system transfers it through its mounting structure toward the ground. Ekso Bionics acquired ZeroG from Equipois in 2015 as part of its expansion into industrial ergonomics and productivity support.
Brand decisions
2024
Advanced Medicare access for Indego PersonalStrategyBackground
Broader adoption of personal exoskeletons depends partly on medical coding and reimbursement.
Action taken
Ekso pursued U.S. Medicare coding and payment determinations for Indego Personal and announced initial CMS reimbursement.
Aftermath
The reimbursement development improved the product’s potential availability to eligible Medicare beneficiaries.
2022
Acquired Parker Hannifin’s Human Motion & Control businessM&ABackground
Parker Hannifin’s business included the Indego exoskeleton products, which complemented Ekso’s institutional rehabilitation focus.
Action taken
Ekso Bionics acquired the business unit and its Indego Therapy and Indego Personal product lines.
Aftermath
The transaction gave Ekso a personal mobility exoskeleton for home and community use and expanded its rehabilitation portfolio.
2015
Acquired the ZeroG businessM&ABackground
Ekso Bionics sought to broaden its industrial exoskeleton and ergonomic technology portfolio.
Action taken
The company acquired ZeroG from Equipois.
Aftermath
Ekso added a robotic tool-support product for industrial work platforms and scaffolding.
2009
Licensed HULC technology to Lockheed MartinStrategyBackground
Berkeley Bionics had developed HULC as a heavy-load, military-oriented exoskeleton.
Action taken
The company entered an exclusive licensing and development arrangement with Lockheed Martin.
Aftermath
HULC continued under Lockheed Martin’s military development, while Berkeley Bionics increasingly developed its own healthcare and industrial product lines.
Recent events
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