From the treacherous “Eighteen-Bend Path” to the scenic South Heaven Gate, the ascent of Mount Tai has long been a grueling pilgrimage for both seasoned hikers and casual tourists. Now, however, a technological marvel is transforming this iconic challenge: the exoskeleton robot.
“I used to rely solely on cable cars, shying away from the ‘Eighteen-Bend Path’,” recalls one visitor. “But with the exoskeleton, I conquered it! What typically took over three hours, I finished in just over an hour, feeling almost 40% less strain.” Such testimonials, shared in live streams promoting “smart health” climbing robots, are quickly gaining traction.
At a bustling rental and experience center near Red Gate, the main entrance to the mountain, reporters observed a steady stream of eager customers in late May. Officials from the Mount Tai Tourism Group confirmed the widespread positive reception of the exoskeleton climbing aid, particularly after the Chinese New Year holiday.
The numbers speak for themselves. From January 1st to May 29th, the number of tourists over 60 years old visiting Mount Tai surged to 303,000 – a jump of 57,000, or approximately 23%, compared to the same period last year. Encouraged by this trend, travel agencies in cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong are now curating special “Mount Tai climbing with assistance” tour packages catering to the elderly.
[Image of a person using an exoskeleton climbing robot on Mount Tai]
The collaboration between the mountain and companies like Shenzhen-based *technology company name* has provided an ideal testing ground. The data gathered is proving invaluable for product development, says *Executive’s Name*, General Manager of *technology company name*. He sees the need to enhance features for the consumer market, making it lighter, more comfortable, and more efficient. “A perfect product is the key to captivating the consumer market,” he emphasizes.
**A Climbing Sensation**
“A friend told me about these external aids. I had to try them out,” remarked Sun Yadong, a tourist at the Red Gate center. With the assistance of staff, he donned a size small exoskeleton and enthusiastically climbed stairs. “It really works! Each step feels like you’re being lifted. It’s like someone is lifting you from your waist while ascending.”
According to Li Mingkun, a staff member at the experience center, the exoskeleton climbing aids are in high demand. He mentioned that the rental equipment at Red Gate is used more than once daily, with even higher turnover at the rental centers near the Middle Heaven Gate.
Exoskeleton robots are wearable smart devices integrating an external framework with robotic technology. They collaborate with the human movement system, augmenting or restoring physical capabilities. The core mechanism is a human-machine system, enabling users to perform tasks with greater efficiency and safety while minimizing physical exertion.
During the recent May Day holiday, several scenic locations such as Mount Tai, Mount Huangshan, and Mount Laoshan offered exoskeleton robot climbing assistance. Mount Tai even added features such as emergency call capabilities and site-specific guidance. The price of exoskeleton mobility aids available on e-commerce platforms fluctuates between a few dollars to several thousand dollars.
Officials at Mount Tai reported that approximately 500 exoskeleton climbing robots were deployed across the main hiking routes and high-traffic areas of the mountain before the May Day holiday. The equipment’s usage rate exceeded 150% during the holiday rush.
Currently, the exoskeleton robot rental services cover core climbing routes, including the path from Red Gate to Middle Heaven Gate, and the path from Middle Heaven Gate to South Heaven Gate. The standard rental fee is ~$11.00 for 3 hours. A single battery charge provides up to 8 hours of use. *Company* and Mount Tai share revenue, which removes any operational risk for the venue, explains the official.
[Image of a robot return point at the South Heaven Gate]
“Based on the soaring demand during the May Day holiday, which reached a peak of 700 rentals per day, coupled with the market potential and anticipated tech advancements,” officials note, “we will increase the number of units to 1,000 before the summer season and then roll out the service to other scenic spots.”
Officials projected a steady use increase over three years, propelled by greater consumer awareness, technological improvements, cost efficiency, and broader applications. The introduction of exoskeleton devices across more tourist attractions should foster consumer habits and boost usage further.
**Who’s Using the Climbing Helpers?**
According to the Mount Tai Tourism Group, the user demographics are diverse: around 20% of climbers are aged 18-25, often curious students or young professionals; 40% are aged 26-40, frequently seeking stress relief from demanding jobs; approximately 30% are aged 41-60, retaining a passion for climbing despite age; and 10% are aged 60 and over.
In terms of motivation, over 70% of users are seeking to reduce physical strain, about 40% are after an improved climbing experience, and roughly 30% are drawn to the technological appeal.
**Application as a Spur to Product Development**
A successful demonstration scenario plays a crucial role in perfecting and improving a technology product. This tends to become a core for the industry.
Exoskeleton robots are not a new concept. A source familiar with the industry notes that similar products have existed for over a decade in countries like Iceland and Japan, primarily in specialized, niche areas, with slow progress for widespread use.
*Technology company name*’s collaboration with Mount Tai represents the exoskeleton’s first substantial application. “The 500 exoskeleton robots on Mount Tai represent the single biggest application of these devices currently worldwide,” confirms the official.
Prior to the Chinese New Year celebration, the tourism group tested a long series of iterations with *Technology company name*, tackling problems such as bulky design and inconvenience. “For instance, if the leverage bar’s movement range was too small, it wouldn’t bounce back. To solve this, we added a support point at the back,” *official* explains.
[Image of people using an exoskeleton climbing robot]
What further improvements and updates are needed, based on feedback gathered over the past few months?
The officials summarize that, based on user feedback and technical research, climbing assistance features require further weight reduction to improve convenience. There is a need for ergonomics improvements, including more flexible design of straps and fixing mechanisms. The use of breathable material would enhance wearing comfort. Additionally, integrating navigation, real-time audio guides, and health-monitoring features such as heart rate tracking would improve usability. The project planning should include more conveniently located rental service points.
According to General Manager *of the Technology Company Name*, these collaborations provide excellent practical testing situations for product advancement. He also notes that previously, exoskeleton robot applications were too small, which hindered data collection and optimization for algorithms. The Mount Tai partnership is a synergistic venture. Mount Tai provides a very suitable testing situation for the company’s products, assisting in the rapid completion of market education.
“Such an ideal product testing ground makes a significant contribution to the development of the company’s algorithm and product iterations. Each user’s climbing data is the reusable power source we use to optimize the algorithm,” *Executive Name* states. Testing the product provides more validation and data leading to commercial results.
**Publicly Traded Companies Join the Fray**
Industry insights show there are several exoskeleton robot types. Based on application location, they can be divided into upper-limb, lower-limb, waist-support, and full-body exoskeletons. Based on application cases, they can be classified into rehabilitation, industrial, military, and consumer types.
Capital groups see a vast market, and the overall market scale is substantial.
Consider the aging sector. The WHO forecasts, from 2020 to 2030, there will be a global population increase of people over 60, from 1 billion to 1.4 billion people. Issues like joint pain and weakening muscles are common with aging, making it difficult to walk. Exoskeleton robots offer additional support and power, making walking simpler, reducing joint strain, and improving stability and comfort.
China’s “14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the National Aging Undertakings and the Elderly Service System” aims to promote technology and intelligence upgrades for elderly products. It includes accelerating the application of AI, brain science, and wearable technologies. It seeks to develop assistive products for rehabilitation, physical therapy, and balance training. With policy support and progress in technology, exoskeleton robots have more potential for increased penetration in the healthcare sector.
The earliest businesses also have notice of the trend. *Executive Name* sees a clear industry pattern. Since the beginning of the year, there’s been a notable surge in orders. “Currently, the company’s production capacity has increased significantly, yet we still struggle to meet market demands, and will continue to expand capacity,” they say.
In addition, Hangzhou Cheng Tian Technology Development Co., Ltd, Shanghai Smart Technology Co., Ltd, and You Long Robotics Co,. Ltd all announced new funding to further development, scenario expansion, and production lines.
Publicly traded companies also noted this new potential market. Investigations show more than a dozen public companies like *Publicly Traded Company 1*, *Publicly Traded Company 2*, and *Publicly Traded Company 3* have made investments in the exoskeleton robot sector.
Recently, *Publicly Traded Company 1* revealed in conversations that its consumer-grade, intelligent exoskeleton robot prototype is undergoing internal testing.
A staff member in the securities department of *Publicly Traded Company 2* stated that the company’s exoskeleton robot is expected for small-scale production in the second half and will be promoted for trials. The key function is to collect user feedback.
Staff from the securities department of *Publicly Traded Company 3* noted that by the end of May, the company had already developed the first prototype of the exoskeleton robot. With a plan to reduce the weight the second generation is currently under development. This company will continuously develop multi-joint external assistance robot products with the aim of robot products’ product diversification.
On May 21, *Publicly Traded Company 4* announced that its portable exoskeleton walking robot is in the small mass-production stage. It is anticipated they will receive medical device approval and start sales within the year. In May, *Medical Equipment company* announced the exoskeleton robot is a medical device and not a popular consumer product.
**The “Last Mile” for Consumer Adoption**
In April, *Technology company* launched a consumer-grade exoskeleton robot, priced at ~$350, on *online marketplace*. The stock sold out within just fifteen seconds of launch, indicating early consumer interest. Despite this, overall commercialization progress for exoskeleton robot businesses both domestically and globally remains modest.
Industry insiders believe that production capability is a factor and despite rapid progress, significant improvements are needed in function, comfort, and price for a consumer breakthrough.
Industry observers note the variety in consumer exoskeletons while pointing to problems. “Some use physical assistance, with just 10% efficiency, which is useful for level walking but doesn’t support climbing, while other products are too heavy. Additionally, some products’ algorithms aren’t optimized, causing falls for users,” they said.
*Executive Name* observes that all aspects of exoskeleton robots may reduce costs in the future and that the largest obstacle isn’t cost currently but recognition of the product.
“For the foreseeable future, product performance is a priority. We anticipate products that are thin, intelligent, accommodating, fashionable, and suitable for outdoor use,” they said. They say that the industry must work together to achieve those goals.
In response, *Technology company* is currently increasing R&D investment this year and is in a minor deficit. “The most important thing right now is to ensure that we have a good product with excellent quality and great performance, enhanced user experience, and good application integration. Shifting from tourist rentals to C-end sales, as well as product development, will contribute to profitability. ” *Executive Name* says that the company will be profitable in the next few years.
“The C-end will have a scale of hundreds of millions of consumers, which exceeds the rental market significantly, and companies like *Technology Company* will promote the C-end and introduce the consumer market. This is the next important stage for the exoskeleton industry,” an industry observer says.
The official also indicated that if climbing support features could be incorporated into gear such as climbing pants, it would lead to substantial growth in customer acceptance and adoption.
[Another image of a user testing the exoskeleton walking robot, in this instance, is the executive member of the Tourism Group]
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