This year, members of Seattle Mountain Rescue have been setting off into the wilds of the US Pacific north-west wearing an unusual piece of kit.

They’ve been hiking into the wilderness with powered assistive devices attached to their hips and legs. Designed to increase lower-body strength when climbing or carrying heavy loads, these pieces of equipment are being tested to see if they can boost rescuers’ speed and endurance when it matters most – during searches for stranded people.

Devices like these are called human exoskeletons. They attach to parts of the body to create an external – or “exo” – mechanical structure. This powered frame enhances the wearer’s physical capabilities.

In physically demanding fields, workers are increasingly using these devices during strenuous tasks. IKEA has used SuitX exoskeletons for several years now. These assist warehouse workers with handling heavy materials. Ford, Boeing and Mazda Toyota have also all adopted the tech on some of their assembly lines.

Technology that boosts people’s physical and mental abilities is no longer the preserve of science fiction. In this series, we explore cutting-edge ways that human capabilities could be augmented both now and in the near future – and the ethics of these innovations.

In Finland, a recent project called ExoPELA assessed whether exoskeletons could reduce muscle load and strain in rescue and firefighting work. It found noticeable benefits for users in certain real-world tasks.

And in early 2026, the Ukrainian military revealed its soldiers had been using Hypershell exoskeletons on the front lines to help with carrying artillery shells. According to test results, soldiers wearing the devices “become........

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