--- title: "Exoskeleton Maker Says Powered Suits Could Soon Be for Sale at Home Depot" description: "SuitX exoskeleton manufacturer says their technology will soon go mainstream. Learn how they plan to sell in big box stores like Home Depot." date: "2021-04-12" modified: "2021-04-21" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/exoskeleton-maker-suits-home-depot" categories: - "Health & Medicine" - "Prosthetics and Devices" tags: - "exoskeleton" - "exoskeletons" - "the digest" --- # Exoskeleton Maker Says Powered Suits Could Soon Be for Sale at Home Depot ![California-based exoskeleton manufacturer SuitX is betting its technology will soon go mainstream — with exoskeletons being sold at every big box store.]() *\Image: SuitX / Futurism\* ## Budget Exoskeleton California-based exoskeleton manufacturer SuitX is betting its technology will soon go mainstream — with exoskeletons being sold at every big box store, the [*BBC* reports](). "There is no doubt in my mind that these devices will eventually be sold at hardware stores," SuitX founder Homayoon Kazerooni told the broadcaster. "As the prices come down you'll be able to simply buy them at Home Depot." ## Relieving Fatigue Exoskeletons don't have to be complex pieces of machinery reminiscent of "Iron Man." Many of today's offerings fulfill far more mundane tasks, from allowing automakers to [work overhead for hours]() at a time, relieving lower back strain, or allowing airline staff to [lift pieces of luggage](). "Integrating humans and machines into one system opens up a new realm of opportunity," Adrian Spragg, expert at management consultancy Accenture, told the *BBC*. "Many of the early applications have been focused on military and medical applications, but in the last several years there's been an explosion of use in a range of cases." SuitX's suits are already being tested at carmakers General Motors and Fiat, mostly to prevent muscle fatigue and get more productivity out of human workers. ## For All Ages For now, exoskeletons can be prohibitively expensive, costing on average "around $45,000," according to Spragg. "However, with economies of scale and technological maturity, prices will come down." Kazerooni tends to agree, suggesting that exoskeletons could make simple activities like climbing or hiking easier — and "for all ages," as the founder told the *BBC*. **READ MORE:** [The 'Iron Man' body armour many of us may soon be wearing]() \[*BBC*\] **More on exoskeletons:** *[YouTuber Uses Exoskeleton to Wield Gigantic Anime Sword]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()