Kathryn Zealand is building an "e-bike for walking" | Interview

Quick Overview

Kathryn Zealand, founder and CEO of Skip, developed MOGO, an exoskeleton "movewear" dubbed "e-bikes for walking," which uses lightweight motors to provide up to 40% of a healthy person's muscle force, primarily aiding individuals with mobility challenges like knee pain, injuries, or age-related issues in tasks such as climbing stairs and standing up.

Key Points: Kathryn Zealand, CEO of Skip, developed MOGO, an exoskeleton "movewear" designed to assist with walking and movement. The product is colloquially referred to as "e-bikes for walking" due to its assistive nature, particularly on inclines and stairs. MOGO utilizes lightweight motors that can provide up to 40% of a healthy person's muscle forces to aid movement. Initially aimed at hikers with knee pain or reduced mobility, Skip's long-term vision is to help anyone achieve their movement goals, including those recovering from injuries or with conditions like Parkinson's. Developing wearable hardware is challenging due to the need for comfort, perfect fit, and aesthetic appeal, unlike factory robots. The AI controlling the exoskeleton must adapt to varied, non-repetitive human movements, a significant hurdle compared to traditional robotics. The MOGO exoskeleton is currently available for pre-order and costs $5,000, with rentals and experiences also offered for specific hiking dreams.

Context: Kathryn Zealand, founder and CEO of Skip, leads a company that spun out of Google's experimental research division, X, in 2023. Skip focuses on developing advanced wearable technology to enhance human mobility. During a live interview at the "Hard Fork Live" event, Zealand discussed her company's flagship product, MOGO, an exoskeleton "movewear" designed to assist with walking and movement, which the hosts humorously referred to as "robot pants."

Detailed Analysis

Kathryn Zealand, CEO of Skip, introduced MOGO, an innovative exoskeleton "movewear" designed to function as "e-bikes for walking," providing significant assistance for human movement. Spun out of Google's X division in 2023, Skip's initial product targets individuals experiencing knee pain, reduced mobility, or those recovering from injuries, aiming to help them with challenging tasks like climbing steep hills and stairs. The core technology involves lightweight motors integrated into the pants, capable of supplying up to 40% of a healthy person's muscle force, with built-in cuffs to efficiently transfer this power to the body. Zealand highlighted the broader market potential, extending beyond current users to include pregnant individuals, older adults, and those with conditions like Parkinson's, emphasizing a long-term goal of enabling anyone to achieve their desired movement regardless of physical limitations. She explained that developing such wearable hardware is inherently difficult due to the high demands for comfort, precise fit, and aesthetic integration, unlike industrial robots. Another significant challenge lies in the AI, which must learn to support diverse and unpredictable human movements, contrasting with the repetitive tasks typically handled by factory robotics. During a live demonstration, the hosts experienced the immediate assistance the pants provided for standing up and climbing a stair machine, noting a distinct difference when the assistive technology was temporarily disabled. The MOGO exoskeleton is priced at $5,000, with pre-orders available for shipping next year, and Skip also offers rental programs for individuals aiming to achieve specific hiking goals.