Exosuits are a promising technology that aids in body movement, but face challenges like muscle fatigue. Scientists in South Korea and Switzerland are working on the Synapsuit, a powered exoskeleton system that aims to combat fatigue using controllably stiffening materials. The system includes an electrostatic clutch that holds joints in place between muscle-driven movements without continuous stimulation. The electrostatic clutch, still in development, is crucial to the Synapsuit’s design, offering up to a 2-kilogram load support. While there is hope for this technology, room for improvement remains, especially in cooperative control. Additionally, neural electrodes made from stretchy materials are being developed to further enhance the Synapsuit system.
https://spectrum.ieee.org/functional-electrical-stimulation-exosuit-project