Wearable technologies for assisted mobility in the real world.
Shuo Gao, Jianan Chen, Yunjia Xia, Xuemeng Li, Weihao Ma, Huixin Yang, Jinchen Li, Xinkai Zhou, Tianyu Jia, Yuchen Xu, Julie Uchitel, Dean Ta, Peng Qi, Junbo Ge, Yi Guo
Abstract
Open AccessMobility impairments from aging, injury, or medical conditions limit independence and social participation. Conventional assistive devices lack adaptability in complex environments. Recent wearable technologies integrating neural sensing, electronics, and co-design offer personalized, responsive mobility support. This perspective focuses on advances in wearable sensing and multimodal fusion for intent recognition, environmental interaction, and adaptive control in exoskeletons, prosthetics, smart wheelchairs, and navigation systems. Emphasizing human-in-the-loop and cognitive-sensorimotor integration, it outlines emerging trends and challenges, promoting intelligent, user-centered solutions to restore function and enhance autonomy, accessibility, and inclusion for individuals with mobility impairments.