What is Rex?

Rex is a self-supporting, hands-free suit and is controlled by the user, says Rex Bionics, the company that built it. It can be used by people with a variety of mobility impairments.

Such robots once needed the user to hold onto crutches for balance, but Rex is self-balancing, which means it is suitable for quadriplegics – people who are paralysed from the neck down.

It suits users between about 1.42 metres and 1.83m tall, and who weigh less than 100 kilograms, with a skeletal hip width of 38 centimetres or less.

With four double-tethered leg straps, an upper harness and abdominal support, security is simple yet ample. It is constructed from hospital-grade materials, including hypoallergenic, pressure-relieving foam padding, which prevents pressure sores from forming.

Motion is generated by 10 motors called linear actuators.

Sensors with high-frequency sampling can accurately detect the location of limbs and joints.

A harness and cuffs support 40 per cent of the user’s body weight to allow controlled weight-bearing.

Powered by rechargeable, interchangeable batteries, Rex is designed to last at least five years when used in the home or hospital setting.

Rex was designed for wheelchair users, including those with spinal-cord injuries, stroke, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. More recently, Rex has been used by people with cerebral palsy.