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“The juice is definitely worth the squeeze.”
https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/604009/
Couldn't be happier for EKSO:
https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/604009/
"On the wall of the task force building is a countdown calendar."
The basic premise of the most recent patent is that muscles should be far away from what they are actually moving in order to increase dexterity. For example, human fingers are controlled by muscles in the forearms, not by muscles in the fingers.
In exoskeletons currently, actuators are largely co-located with the joint for simplicity. (see the bulky knobs coming off the GT located at each major joint actuated)
There are a few different models proposed to put the actuators further away, but it's easier said than done. For example, torsion has been proposed. The problem with torsion however, is that it creates a very large amount of wear and tear:
"even high tensile strength cord, after being twisted and untwisted many times, or having been subject to stress from a fall or misstep, may be at risk of breakage"
Ekso's patent has to do with a series of pulleys and a ball-screw&nut configuration that is a novel solution to this problem, allowing for actuators to be more centrally located while still maintaining structural integrity.
It's hard to know exactly how effective this will be, but obviously effective enough the company spent time and money to get it patented.
It seems to me that this research came out of the Warrior Web program, since the series of pulleys are what I consider to be the "web". This is simply an educated guess, I have no evidence for this.
You can't blame ClayTrader. His biggest motivation is getting views and people only want to watch videos about stocks that are shooting straight up.
Cup with handles (chart formation) at 5$ is what I'm reading from the chart
Nice chart w/ 30 minute candlesticks! See Implied Volatility on EKSO:
http://www.nasdaq.com/article/options-traders-expect-huge-moves-in-ekso-bionics-ekso-stock-cm876942
I noticed something on the SOFWERX website today:
https://www.sofwerx.org/talos/
Not only does this page exist, but click on the "click here" where it says Review the SAW: FCD brief
Then look at the picture: the third man on the right has an Ekso logo in the center of his chest.
Remember,
"Geurts was the driving force behind Thunderdome and Sofwerx, ongoing military-civilian idea incubators in Tampa Heights and Ybor City, to develop innovations for special forces needs. That includes the exoskeleton ‘Iron Man’ suit, formally known as the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit or TALOS.”
"The Trump Administration nominated U.S. Special Operations Command acquisition executive James Geurts to serve as the next assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition."
The title is the article includes:
"Nominated to Serve as Navy Acquisition Chief"
https://news.usni.org/2017/09/11/socoms-james-geurts-nominated-serve-navy
---------
On one hand, it seems as if the project isn't very far along based on the questions the are asking. On the other hand, the picture they give with Ekso technology shown demonstrates it's further than conceptual.
I spoke in person with a Congressman today (my previous Boss) who represents my district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
He told me the House Armed Services Committee is speaking about exoskeletons and there's a large report underway. He also said he would provide me with the report if he is allowed to.
I think the Earnings call went better than expected too. I'd guess it was Mr. Babini and Mr. Wang who helped to create a much better presentation. The numbers weren't staggering or anything, but the way the CEO talked about their products was much clearer and pointed in a definite direction.
I'm not sure if this had much of an effect. I think it was mostly Yahoo's coverage resulting in the price going up. Still, it was refreshing to listen into the earnings call.
Here's to a military contract being announced in the coming few months!
Old, but gold.
If only people were aware of the bigger picture.
It's not just Ford. "Current users of the Equipois Zero G system include Airbus, Boeing, General Electric, BHP Billiton, Gammon Construction, Lockheed Martin, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Caterpillar, John Deere, Bradken and many more."
Source: https://www.sigmaergonomics.com/products/zero-g/ (Sigma Ergonomics markets Ekso products)
https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/604009/
On the wall of the task force building is a countdown calendar. The day of the interview, the number read 877 — the days left before the Mark 5 first prototype suit must be ready for testing.
This was January 28th, 2015...
so essentially this means testing of the mk 5 TALOS suit began the 25th of July at the latest, assuming my math is correct. It's also quite possible the interview occurred before the article was published.
All we're waiting for is public unveil sometime next year.
Perhaps it will be mk 6 by then
Russ Angold himself left me a message. I'm not too upset by the delay anymore, but hopefully it gets fixed in the future.
My current plan is to talk to my local VA healthcare system and try to get them to be interested enough to get Ekso come out to give a demo on the university campus. It's a lot of red tape with liability issues and such, but I think it might be possible. Ideally the VA would rent a unit for a full year or even buy it.
If that doesn't work, I'll probably contact Barrow Neurological Institute and try to get them to send up a trained PT. I'll see what I can do.
Also, the shortest rental time period Ekso has for their GT is 1 year, but they are willing to do demonstrations for free with potentially interested PT centers. I'm hoping I'll be able to work something out with a local center, but I don't know if my city is large enough to have enough demand for them to actually rent the device with out bleeding money so I'll have to do some fact finding
Finally got a response from the customer service manager at Ekso after leaving a voice mail with Russ Angold. He said he would talk with their receptionist about the unresponsiveness, so hopefully they start answering their phones with more reliability.
I'm pissed at Ekso. I possibly have the funds to rent an exoskeleton for a demonstration at a University, but they won't return my calls. I've left messages with Ekso Health, Ekso Industrial, and Investor Relations and it's been days. I tried them again today and still no answer.
I'm beginning to be embarrassed I ever thought this company was a good idea.
https://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/816663
Small Business Innovation Research:
The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) is another program that expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development (R&D) arena. Central to the program is expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include the joint venture opportunities for small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The unique feature of the STTR program is the requirement for the small business to formally collaborate with a research institution in Phase I and Phase II. STTR's most important role is to bridge the gap between performance of basic science and commercialization of resulting innovations.
https://www.sbir.gov/about/about-sttr
So I called Ekso Bionics today, including their Ekso Health and Ekso Industrial, and Ekso Investor Relations phone numbers and none of them answered or have responded to me in any form even after I left messages.
I'm extremely worried about the companies future if they can't even answer their phones.
EKSO VEST TO BE RELEASED TODAY OR TOMORROW
I forget whether it was in a newsletter, but I recall the vest is supposed to be released this month.
It's news (new-news is redundant), since his joining the board was only prospective and not concrete until it actually happened.
Most prospective investors try to reduce their risk as much as possible and reacting to potential news as if it were real would be foolishly risky. So the actual SEC filing certifying he has officially joined the board is something new in which we can all relish.
Also, our institutional investment % is skyrocketing now, which is certainly a big factor to algorithmic trading
I think it's people seeing Theodore Wang joining our board and buying a shit ton of shares that is pumping up our stock right now - and for good fucking reason mates.
Also, Oct 1st many veteran rehabilitation funds are dispersed, which now include travel expenses related to treatment of spinal cord injuries. See subtitle G
U.S. Code › Title 38 › Part I › Chapter 1 › § 111
---- this US code was amended recently (Ekso lobbied on this bill). Take a look at this bill:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5325/text
(a) Under regulations prescribed by the President pursuant to the provisions of this section, the Secretary may pay the actual necessary expense of travel (including lodging and subsistence), or in lieu thereof an allowance based upon mileage (at a rate of 41.5 cents per mile), of any person to or from a Department facility or other place in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling required by the Secretary pursuant to chapter 34 or 35 of this title, or for the purpose of examination, treatment, or care. Actual necessary expense of travel includes the reasonable costs of airfare if travel by air is the only practical way to reach a Department facility. In addition to the mileage allowance authorized by this section, there may be allowed reimbursement for the actual cost of ferry fares, and bridge, road, and tunnel tolls.
(b)
(1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section and notwithstanding subsection (g)(2) of this section or any other provision of law, if, with respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary exercises the authority under this section to make any payments, the Secretary shall make the payments provided for in this section to or for the following persons for travel during such fiscal year for examination, treatment, or care for which the person is eligible:
(A) A veteran or other person whose travel is in connection with treatment or care for a service-connected disability.
(B) A veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 30 percent or more.
(C) A veteran receiving pension under section 1521 of this title.
(D) A veteran (i) who is not traveling by air and whose annual income (as determined under section 1503 of this title) does not exceed the maximum annual rate of pension which would be payable to such veteran if such veteran were eligible for pension under section 1521 of this title, or (ii) who is determined, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, to be unable to defray the expenses of the travel for which payment under this section is claimed.
(E) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, a veteran or other person whose travel to or from a Department facility is medically required to be performed by a special mode of travel and who is determined under such regulations to be unable to defray the expenses of the travel for which payment under this section is claimed.
(F) A veteran whose travel to a Department facility is incident to a scheduled compensation and pension examination.
(G) A veteran with vision impairment, a veteran with a spinal cord injury or disorder, or a veteran with double or multiple amputations whose travel is in connection with care provided through a special disabilities rehabilitation program of the Department (including programs provided by spinal cord injury centers, blind rehabilitation centers, and prosthetics rehabilitation centers) if such care is provided—
(i) on an in-patient basis; or
(ii) during a period in which the Secretary provides the veteran with temporary lodging at a facility of the Department to make such care more accessible to the veteran.
(2) The Secretary may make payments provided for in this section to or for any person not covered by paragraph (1) of this subsection for travel by such person for examination, treatment, or care. Such payments shall be made in accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe.
(3)
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall not make payments under this section for travel performed by a special mode of travel unless (i) the travel by such mode is medically required and is authorized by the Secretary before the travel begins, or (ii) the travel by such mode is in connection with a medical emergency of such a nature that the delay incident to obtaining authorization from the Secretary to use that mode of travel would have been hazardous to the person’s life or health.
(B) In the case of travel by a person to or from a Department facility by special mode of travel, the Secretary may provide payment under this section to the provider of the transportation by special mode before determining the eligibility of such person for such payment if the Secretary determines that providing such payment is in the best interest of furnishing care and services. Such a payment shall be made subject to subsequently recovering from such person the amount of the payment if such person is determined to have been ineligible for payment for such travel.
(C) In the case of transportation of a person to or from a Department facility by ambulance, the Secretary may pay the provider of the transportation the lesser of the actual charge for the transportation or the amount determined by the fee schedule established under section 1834(l) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(l)) unless the Secretary has entered into a contract for that transportation with the provider.
(4) In determining for purposes of subsection (a) whether travel by air is the only practical way for a veteran to reach a Department facility, the Secretary shall consider the medical condition of the veteran and any other impediments to the use of ground transportation by the veteran.
(c)
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Secretary, in making a payment under this section to or for a person described in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (D) of subsection (b)(1) of this section for travel for examination, treatment, or care, shall deduct from the amount otherwise payable an amount equal to $3 for each one-way trip.
(2) In the case of a person who is determined by the Secretary to be a person who is required to make six or more one-way trips for needed examination, treatment, or care during the remainder of the calendar month in which the determination is made or during any subsequent calendar month during the one-year period following the last day of the month in which the determination is made, the amount deducted by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection from payments for trips made to or from such facility during any such month shall not exceed $18.
(3) No deduction shall be made pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection in the case of a person whose travel to or from a Department facility is performed by a special mode of travel for which payment under this section is authorized under subsection (b)(3) of this section.
(4) The Secretary may waive the deduction requirement of paragraph (1) of this subsection in the case of the travel of any veteran for whom the imposition of the deduction would cause severe financial hardship. The Secretary shall prescribe in regulations the conditions under which a finding of severe financial hardship is warranted for purposes of this paragraph.
(d) Payment of the following expenses or allowances in connection with vocational rehabilitation, counseling, or upon termination of examination, treatment, or care, may be made before the completion of travel:
(1) The mileage allowance authorized by subsection (a) of this section.
(2) Actual local travel expenses.
(3) The expense of hiring an automobile or ambulance, or the fee authorized for the services of a nonemployee attendant.
(e)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), when any person entitled to mileage under this section requires an attendant (other than an employee of the Department) in order to perform such travel, the attendant may be allowed expenses of travel upon the same basis as such person.
(2)
(A) Without regard to whether an eligible veteran entitled to mileage under this section for travel to a Department facility for the purpose of medical examination, treatment, or care requires an attendant in order to perform such travel, an attendant of such veteran described in subparagraph (B) may be allowed expenses of travel (including lodging and subsistence) upon the same basis as such veteran during—
(i) the period of time in which such veteran is traveling to and from a Department facility for the purpose of medical examination, treatment, or care; and
(ii) the duration of the medical examination, treatment, or care episode for such veteran.
(B) An attendant of a veteran described in this subparagraph is a provider of personal care services for such veteran who is approved under paragraph (6) of section 1720G(a) of this title or designated under paragraph (7) of such section 1720G(a).
(C) The Secretary may prescribe regulations to carry out this paragraph. Such regulations may include provisions—
(i) to limit the number of attendants that may receive expenses of travel under this paragraph for a single medical examination, treatment, or care episode of an eligible veteran; and
(ii) to require such attendants to use certain travel services.
(D) In this subsection, the term “eligible veteran” has the meaning given that term in section 1720G(a)(2) of this title.
(f) The Secretary may provide for the purchase of printed reduced-fare requests for use by veterans and their authorized attendants when traveling at their own expense to or from any Department facility.
(g)
(1) Beginning one year after the date of the enactment of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, the Secretary may adjust the mileage rate described in subsection (a) to be equal to the mileage reimbursement rate for the use of privately owned vehicles by Government employees on official business (when a Government vehicle is available), as prescribed by the Administrator of General Services under section 5707(b) of title 5.
(2) If an adjustment in the mileage rate under paragraph (1) results in a lower mileage rate than the mileage rate otherwise specified in subsection (a), the Secretary shall, not later than 60 days before the date of the implementation of the mileage rate as so adjusted, submit to Congress a written report setting forth the adjustment in the mileage rate under this subsection, together with a justification for the decision to make the adjustment in the mileage rate under this subsection.
(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1113; Pub. L. 86–590, July 5, 1960, 74 Stat. 329; Pub. L. 89–358, §?4(g), Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 24; Pub. L. 89–455, June 18, 1966, 80 Stat. 208; Pub. L. 94–581, title I, §?101, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2842; Pub. L. 96–151, title II, §?201(a), Dec. 20, 1979, 93 Stat. 1093; Pub. L. 97–295, §?4(5), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1305; Pub. L. 100–322, title I, §?108(a), (b)(1), (c)–(e)(1), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 496–498; Pub. L. 102–83, §§?4(a)(3), (4), (6), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404–406; Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, §?1201(e)(1), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4685; Pub. L. 110–387, title IV, §?401(a)(1), (b), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4122; Pub. L. 111–163, title I, §?104, title III, §?305(a)–(d), May 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 1140, 1151, 1152; Pub. L. 112–56, title II, §?263, Nov. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 732; Pub. L. 112–154, title VII, §?704, Aug. 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 1206; Pub. L. 112–260, title II, §?202(b)(1)–(3), Jan. 10, 2013, 126 Stat. 2424; Pub. L. 114–58, title VI, §?601(1), Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 538; Pub. L. 114–223, div. A, title II, §?250(a), Sept. 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 892.)
Source: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/38/111
Ekso Vest is supposed to release this month. 5 days left
cheers to that
GREAT end of day movement yesterday!!!!!!
https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/rehabilitation
The number 1 ranked rehab facility in the entire nation? Yeah, they have an Ekso GT:
http://www.rehabpub.com/2013/12/the-next-generation-of-ekso-reaches-rehabilitation-institute-of-chicago/
Another TALOS related promotion: Draper appoints Michael Fieldson to Special Operational Forces Associate Director
http://www.draper.com/news/draper-appoints-michael-fieldson-special-operations-forces-associate-director
About Draper:
Draper is a recognized world leader in both Positioning, Navigation & Timing and Microsystems, with additional expertise in Precision Instrumentation, Fault-Tolerant Systems, Secure & Assured Systems, Autonomous Systems, Image & Data Analytics, Human-Centered Solutions, Materials Engineering & Microfabrication, and Biomedical Solutions. With a strong commitment to deliver working solutions, we apply ourselves to a variety of domains from space to undersea—and many areas in between.
The CEO of Draper, Ken Gabriel, was most recently the deputy director of the Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group at Google, which he helped establish when he joined the organization in 2012 as Corporate Vice President at Google/Motorola Mobility. From 2009 to 2012, Ken was the Deputy Director, and then Acting Director, of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the Department of Defense where he led an agency with an annual budget of $3B that is charged with managing the Department’s portfolio of its most cutting-edge projects to both create and avoid technology surprises.
Ekso Vest is supposed to have an official launch in the next 10 days, keep your eyes peeled
I'm thinking I will call investor relations and ask the expiration dates on the options executed recently and see what the different strike points are to try to judge the insider trading more accurately.
If the recent director acquisitions are exercising their options long before expiration, it's probably bad - unless strike price is rising quickly.
Or if anyone can find this information in the last 10-K, that'd be great.
SOCOM’s James Geurts Nominated to Serve as Navy Acquisition Chief; Modly Nominated as Under Secretary
According to the Tampa Bay Times’ TBO.com website, “Geurts was described by a Tampa Bay Times columnist as ‘a budding rock star in Tampa Bay’s defense industry.’ Geurts was the driving force behind Thunderdome and Sofwerx, ongoing military-civilian idea incubators in Tampa Heights and Ybor City, to develop innovations for special forces needs. That includes the exoskeleton ‘Iron Man’ suit, formally known as the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit or TALOS.”
...Geurts just got nominated to Navy Aquisition Chief.
Considering this is news coming from the US Naval Institute, it's legit:
https://news.usni.org/2017/09/11/socoms-james-geurts-nominated-serve-navy
Skilled Nursing Facilities and Ekso Bionics join teams:
http://ir.eksobionics.com/press-releases/detail/627
Nice research Berta!!! TY for HARD CONFIRMATION
A PHYSICS Ph.D AND GOLDMAN SACHS PARTNER JOINING EKSO'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ---- I THOUGHT I WAS HAPPY WITH BABINI, BUT THIS BLOWS HIM OUT OF THE WATER.
Huge things are happening with EKSO right now.
TALOS release is <1 year away