Ekso Bionics Holdings Inc (EKSO)

[Rhetorical]

Harvard and Ekso working together? Deductive Analysis:

Compare these 2 press releases from Ekso and Harvard:

http://ir.eksobionics.com/press-releases/detail/566/ekso-bionics-selected-for-development-of-next-generation

"EKSO BIONICS™ SELECTED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NEXT-GENERATION DARPA EXOSKELETON

EKSO BIONICS TO CREATE FLEXIBLE EXOSKELETON FOR SOLDIERS; NEW APPROACH HAS POTENTIAL TO REVOLUTIONIZE WEARABLE ROBOTICS"

And:

http://wyss.harvard.edu/viewpressrelease/165/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Harvards+Wyss+Institute+awarded+DARPA+contract+to+further+develop+Soft+Exosuit&utm_content=Harvards+Wyss+Institute+awarded+DARPA+contract+to+further+develop+Soft+Exosuit+CID_9f7c0b02bc31faab41d4fa0c57ddc25f&utm_source=Campaign%20Monitor&utm_term=img%20width625%20height194srchttpwyssharvardedustaticfilesnewsroompressreleasesExosuit-boots-625x194png%20altExosuit


"As announced today, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has issued a $2.9 million contract to researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering to develop a flexible robotic exoskeleton that can be worn by soldiers — and eventually civilians — to make them stronger and more resilient." - The Verge

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It's my opinion that is that 'next generation flexible' and 'soft robot suit' may very well mean the same thing.

No where has it been said that these two groups are working together.

And yet, look at this about the Harvard/Wyss project:

"Boston-based New Balance will also be a key collaborator on this new phase of the project, bringing expertise in textile and apparel innovation."

Compared this to an Ekso Press Release (Aug 31, 2015):

"On August 31 at Fenway Park in Boston, SoldierSocks (soldiersocks.org) will also officially announce its new partnership with Boston-based sporting goods company, New Balance"

It would seem the two companies have a common thread (quite literally). It's technically Soldier Strong, not Ekso, who partnered with New Balance, but Soldier Strong has also agreed to buy 80 Ekso GT's, so they are transitively related.

I think it might be fair to assume that Ekso and Harvard are in collaboration. There could also be some very large coincidences and Warrior Web could have them working separately, for a similar goal.

I think the name "warrior web", which implies a connecting or webbing of technologies, means it's more likely they are working together than apart.

It also makes sense to me from a technical standpoint. The purpose of the flexible, textile, exoskeleton is to reduce weight and have a better monitoring of bio-mechanical impulses. Yet there are certain weight bearing features and safety mechanisms that would benefit from having a more rigid, metal exoskeleton. It makes sense to combine the best of both worlds and perhaps this is what the Warrior Web project is doing right now.


Other Source: http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/11/6137511/the-us-military-is-spending-2-9-million-to-develop-a-soft-robot-suit