Ekso Bionics Holdings Inc (EKSO)

[Rhetorical]

From a physics standpoint, Ekso is different than their competitors based on energy expenditure (ergonomics).

"Our first prototype of that technology consumed three orders of magnitude less power than the system before it." - Nathan Harding

Source: http://newventurist.com/2012/09/ekso-bionics-making-those-who-cant-walk/

So that's pretty much what allowed the launch of EKSO as a company. 1000 fold increases in efficiency don't come easily.

Exoskeletons have been around since the 60's. Commercially with GE (hardiman) and Nationally with Los Alamos Laboratories (project pitman). So almost 60 years later and we're finally to the point where production for consumer use is underway. We've gone from exoskeletons too dangerous to put on, to FDA approved devices - all the way from research to reality. So right now is pretty much the golden age of exoskeleton tech historically speaking.

From a company perspective, I think Ekso's current edge is their FDA stroke approval. Ekso GT senses and responds hundreds of times per second to the user's motions, whereas many competitors have more rigidly programmed gait patterns. I think it's this ability that give Ekso functionality for stroke patients - and it's patented. It's a lot more complex than just software and trajectory calculations. Proper tactile feedback also requires sophisticated hardware.

The last angle I think is worth addressing is the military one. DARPA doesn't mess around with crazy ideas. If they are going to try to challenge a problem, they at least require a whiff of feasibility. So when DARPA contracts Ekso repeatedly over a long time period like they have, it seems as if they are making progress otherwise why continue. Also, the breadth of agency is important to look at.

When the TALOS project was first announced, SOCOM soldiers were chosen to be the recipient. Then some time passed and the army announced they were doing research on exoskeletons. Then a little more time passed and the Army let it slip that Warrior Web would potentially address 90% of the
military population.

Source: https://www.arl.army.mil/www/?article=2551

So in terms of robotic exoskeleton contracts the Army has made public, there are only two that I'm aware of. Ekso Bionics is part of the team working on a simulator. Also, PowerWalk by BionicPower fits into this category, but since it's not doing any weight carriage - I think it's basically non-competitive.

http://www.resquared.com/news-events/press-releases/

So exoskeletons have gone about something that only the very best of the best were possibly going to receive - to being something that potentially 90% of the military population will be wearing. If this isn't a sign of game changing realities taking hold, I'm not sure what is.