Lifeward Completes Research Program with Israeli Human-Robot Interaction Consortium to Integrate Artificial Intelligence and Exoskeletons
- Successful demonstration of proof-of-concept prototype integrating AI and advanced sensing technologies
- Potential for improved exoskeleton usability through AI integration
- Strategic collaboration with universities and companies in robotics innovation
- None.
Insights
Lifeward's AI exoskeleton research advances technological capabilities but lacks clear commercialization timeline or immediate financial impact.
Lifeward's completion of their three-year research program with Israel's Human-Robot Interaction Consortium represents an incremental step in medical robotics development, albeit with uncertain near-term commercial implications. The company has successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept prototype integrating AI with their ReWalk exoskeletons, focusing on enhancing user experience through autonomous decision-making capabilities.
The research specifically targets a key adoption barrier for exoskeleton technology: usability. By incorporating AI systems that can potentially anticipate user intent and adapt to various environments, Lifeward aims to make their devices more intuitive. Such advancements could theoretically reduce the learning curve for new users and improve functionality across different real-world scenarios.
From a technical perspective, the integration described involves advanced sensing technologies and AI algorithms capable of environmental adaptation. This represents the current direction of medical robotics — moving from purely mechanical assistance to intelligent systems that can work more seamlessly with human users.
However, several important elements remain undefined in this announcement. The press release provides no information about:
- Regulatory pathway or timeline for incorporating this technology into commercial products
- Technical specifications or performance metrics of the prototype
- Comparative advantages over existing or competing technologies
- Expected impact on production costs or pricing
This announcement represents early-stage R&D progress rather than an imminent product launch or near-term revenue opportunity. While continued innovation is essential for companies in specialized medical technology markets, the financial impact of this particular research milestone appears limited in the immediate term.
Three-year program examined opportunities to integrate artificial intelligence technology into future generations of ReWalk Exoskeletons
MARLBOROUGH, Mass. and YOKNEAM ILLIT, Israel, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lifeward Ltd., (Nasdaq: LFWD) (“Lifeward” or the “Company”), a global leader in innovative medical technology to transform the lives of people with physical limitations or disabilities, announced the Company has completed its research program as part of the Israel Innovation Authority’s MAGNET incentive program, the Human Robot Interaction Consortium (the “HRI Consortium”). This three-year program provides research and collaboration grants to private businesses and leading academic centers, with the goal of “developing advanced technologies aimed at providing robots with social capabilities, enabling them to carry out various tasks and effective interactions with different users in diverse operational environments.”
Through its work with the HRI Consortium, Lifeward examined how artificial intelligence (“AI”) could be utilized with future generations of its ReWalk Personal Exoskeleton. The Company successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept prototype that integrated advanced sensing technologies and AI to enable autonomous decision making to adapt to different use environments. This effort showed how AI can improve exoskeleton device usability and advance future iterations of the exoskeleton.
“Lifeward is honored to have participated in the HRI Consortium with other top minds in the robotics industry,” said Larry Jasinski, CEO of Lifeward. “There is enormous potential for AI to enhance and improve human-exoskeleton interactions in ways that are intuitive for users. Our goal is to provide exoskeletons that anticipate users’ intent and make the systems even easier to use. The exploration of incorporating innovative technologies and AI into future generations of the ReWalk is an important step toward that goal.”
“Throughout our three years working with the HRI Consortium, we’ve collaborated across sectors, combining Israel’s unique innovation ecosystem with our global clinical and commercial expertise to build systems that not only restore movement, but also intelligently support life in motion,” said David Hexner, Vice President of R&D at Lifeward. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the HRI Consortium, and are excited about opportunities to use AI, sensing technologies and machine vision to help revolutionize wearable robotics in the future.”
During the HRI Consortium, Lifeward collaborated with several universities and companies to develop advanced technologies aimed at improving the human-exoskeleton interaction. With top researchers in the fields of robotics, behavioral sciences, and human-computer interaction, this research seeks to widen adoption by making the use of exoskeletons easier, more natural and more broadly accepted. The HRI Consortium is a three-year project which started in May 2022 and concluded last month. Lifeward is one of six companies participating in the HRI Consortium, in addition to several Israeli universities.
About Lifeward
Lifeward designs, develops, and commercializes life-changing solutions that span the continuum of care in physical rehabilitation and recovery, delivering proven functional and health benefits in clinical settings as well as in the home and community. Our mission at Lifeward is to relentlessly drive innovation to change the lives of individuals with physical limitations or disabilities. We are committed to delivering groundbreaking solutions that empower individuals to do what they love. The Lifeward portfolio features innovative products including the ReWalk Exoskeleton, the AlterG Anti-Gravity System, the ReStore Exo-Suit, and the MyoCycle FES System. Founded in 2001, Lifeward has operations in the United States, Israel, and Germany.
Lifeward®, ReWalk®, ReStore®, and Alter G® are registered trademarks of Lifeward Ltd. and/or its affiliates.
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements may include projections regarding the Company's future performance and other statements that are not statements of historical fact and, in some cases, may be identified by words like "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "future," "will," "should," "would," "seek" and similar terms or phrases. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's current expectations, which are subject to uncertainty, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company’s control. Important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others: the acceptance of the ReWalk 7 Personal Exoskeleton by healthcare professionals and patients; uncertainties associated with future clinical trials and the clinical development process, the product development process and FDA regulatory submission review and approval process; the Company's ability to have sufficient funds to meet certain future capital requirements, which could impair the Company's efforts to develop and commercialize existing and new products; the Company's ability to maintain and grow its reputation and the market acceptance of its products; the Company's ability to achieve reimbursement from third-party payors, including CMS, for its products; the Company's limited operating history and its ability to leverage its sales, marketing and training infrastructure; the Company's expectations as to its clinical research program and clinical results; the Company's expectations regarding future growth, including its ability to increase sales in its existing geographic markets and expand to new markets; the Company's ability to obtain certain components of its products from third-party suppliers and its continued access to its product manufacturers; the Company’s ability to navigate any difficulties associated with moving production of its AlterG Anti-Gravity Systems to a contract manufacturer; the Company's ability to improve its products and develop new products; the Company's compliance with medical device reporting regulations to report adverse events involving the Company's products, which could result in voluntary corrective actions or enforcement actions such as mandatory recalls, and the potential impact of such adverse events on the Company's ability to market and sell its products; the Company's ability to gain and maintain regulatory approvals; the Company's ability to maintain adequate protection of its intellectual property and to avoid violation of the intellectual property rights of others; the risk of a cybersecurity attack or breach of the Company's IT systems significantly disrupting its business operations; the Company's ability to use effectively the proceeds of its offerings of securities; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC and other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date hereof. Factors or events that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ from the statements contained herein may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Lifeward Media Relations:
Kathleen O’Donnell
Vice President, Marketing & New Business Development
Lifeward Ltd.
E: media@golifeward.com
Lifeward Investor Contact:
Mike Lawless
Chief Financial Officer
Lifeward Ltd.
E: ir@golifeward.com
FAQ
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