Artificial Intelligence seems to have taken over every facet of our lives and homes, and yet, somehow, it's not really helping us in everyday life beyond the textual/visual Google Search-type help. Wearable technology itself has remained passive, simply counting steps, tracking heart rates, or sleep quality. But, not really being a true part of everyday routine, let alone helping us improve our lifestyle. Vastnaut aims to change that with its Vastnaut One 4x4, the world's first AI-powered exoskeleton, offering a fully integrated experience that mirrors human biomechanics, to improve your fitness and help you enjoy outdoor activities to the fullest.
Vastnaut One 4x4 outdoor exoskeleton supports both hips and knees, designed specifically for hiking, climbing, and heavy-load outdoor adventures. This is in contrast to other exoskeletons in the industry that function like two-wheel drive, supporting either the hips or the knees. Vastnaut One is the first exoskeleton in the market that offers both. This means increased ascent power, better knee support, reduced joint stress, and a heavy backpack ready to truly support you and your supplies on real adventures.
A little bit about the makers
Founded by engineers rooted in robotics, biomechanics, and control systems, Vastnaut as a company inherently believes in using technology to expand human capability in meaningful ways. With outdoor exoskeletons, the team hopes to inspire people to explore with amplified strength and freedom. The company has a deep focus on engineering the most intuitive wearable robotics, carrying experience in cutting-edge robotics and consumer electronics. This is reflected in the product through design and supporting technologies.
When we initially started exploring exoskeleton products, we noticed some comments on how these products are "lazy" add-ons and that people should simply work out more to be strong enough to deal with everything from running a marathon to a long-distance trek. However, this boxes the product into a limited use by a non-disabled young person who is only using an exo to lose some extra minutes in a marathon.
The usage scenarios of something like Vastnaut One 4x4 outdoor exoskeleton go far beyond that. In the most basic but potentially most useful example, an exoskeleton enables people with joint and mobility issues to easily handle their everyday life, from taking their dogs on a walk to carrying groceries up the stairs. The results are transformative.
Add in niche scenarios like a botanist or a field researcher going up a hill for research, a porter carrying heavy loads for moutaineers on an everyday basis, breaking their bodies in the process, or even a hobbyist photographer trekking with heavy equipment to snap some gorgeous visuals - a powerful exoskeleton can truly improve lives and help humans live their dream lives beyond the limitations of the body.
But none of this is possible without a product that combines good design with new technologies.
Technologies powering the Vastnaut One 4x4 outdoor exoskeleton
The 4x4 structure of the Vastnaut One features an innovative 4-joint, 4-motor design that delivers powerful assistance across rugged landscapes, with each motor delivering 400 watts of power. The exoskeleton is further supported by the following technologies and systems:
ATD™ (Adaptive Torque Distribution): Offering true multi-joint coordination, the Vastnaut One's ATD offers dynamically distributed assistance across the hips and knees, depending on terrain changes.
VastDrive™ System: Developed in-house, the VastDrive System integrates the company's self-developed motor, battery, and control into a compact, ultra-light unified robotic core. This results in greater energy efficiency and durability, since every component is internally custom-designed to work together seamlessly.
VastSynergy™ AI Engine: This isn't a borrowed or mode-based AI system that's limited to predefined support modes. VastSynergy is an industry-first, end-to-end AI framework that analyzes personal data and individualized joint dynamics in real time to deliver fully personalized assistance that adapts naturally to you based on your height, weight, heart rate, and real-time movement dynamics. This engine isn't a preset but trained on millions of motion clips and hundreds of structured movement patterns.
Beyond tech, the design itself is pioneering
Intelligence may be driving this consumer-tech-first 4x4 exoskeleton, but it needs an equally advanced design to be able to not only deal with but conquer the toughest terrain. Designed to be ultra-light and durable, the Vastnaut One 4x4 is built with over 86% carbon fiber, with the exo weighing only 2.7 kg! The design is ergonomic, made to be worn and removed easily. Built with breathable materials, the team has ensured the product remains comfortable to wear for long hours, minimizing the irritation and discomfort often associated with these products.
It is also easy to pack and carry. With IP54 water and dust protection, the Vastnaut One is truly ready for all kinds of camping and hiking.
Accessible Sizing: Designed to accommodate different body types, the Vastnaut One supports heights from 5'3" to 6'3" (160-190cm) and waist sizes up to 51 inches (130cm). Vastnaut continues to work to further expand size inclusivity and is open to customer input.
Other features/benefits include:
- Smart App: syncs with the device to track energy use and offer real-time monitoring
- Supports single-joint use with an additional accessory: ideal for less complex terrain or flat path
- Measurable benefits: stronger uphill performance, lower fatigue (physical exertion decreased by 32%), reduced joint stress (by 35% on knees), reduced heart rate (by 34%)
- Battery: offers 4.5 hours of runtime, supports routes of up to 20km
Vastnaut's Kickstarter campaign, early-bird offers, and more
Vastnaut One officially launches on Kickstarter on April 28, offering early backers discounts of up to $700 with additional exclusive rewards to be unlocked during the campaign.
Vastnaut One 4x4 will retail for $1,899, with an early-bird offer of $1,299 (31.6% discount). Vastnaut One 4x4 Explorer Combo is priced at $2,099, but an early-bird offer of $1,399 is currently valid (33.3% discount). The Explorer Combo includes an additional battery, smart hip kit, carry bag, and shoulder strap.
Consumer robotics that merge intelligent wearable tech with biomechanics, AI, and ergonomic, lightweight design result in practical, real-world applications that truly solve current issues and hindrances rather than enabling and benefiting from the problems.
As people get more and more wary of how the current sedentary lifestyle impacts our mental and physical health, and increasingly get more into outdoor activities, it becomes critical for the industry to create solutions to support this growing need, enabling more people to truly get into outdoor adventures. Since this doesn’t seem to be attracting the attention or R&D efforts of tech giants, companies like Vastnaut, built and run by engineers, are needed to break the boundaries and push for better, more health-centric use of tech.
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About the author: Staff writer at Wccftech. Love F1, PC hardware and AI/ML. Covering the hardware and general technology beats with a dribble of software.
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