Ekso Bionics Holdings Inc (EKSO)

[Rhetorical]

There are phases with DARPA. First they get the technology they need at the research/component level. Then they integrate it. Then they test the integrated product. Then they transfer the large scale acquisition over to more major sections of the military.

notice this Press release:

"Ekso Bionics will engage Under Armour as a subcontractor in the third phase of the program to test the system’s durability and ability to be manufactured at scale, and support beta testing of the suit at the Army Research Laboratory Human Research and Engineering Directorate at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md."

My understanding is that Aberdeen Proving Ground is where things go post integration phase. I believe the fact things are moving forward and Ekso isn't announcing new DARPA research actually is a good sign, not a bad one. To me, it signals that acquisition might occur soon and that research might be largely completed.

If on the other hand, they weren't talking about "ability to manufactured at scale", and no further DARPA contracts were announced by now, I would be more worried their involvement didn't really lead anywhere. Luckily, this doesn't appear to be the case.

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