Global Market for Human Augmentation Systems to Reach $877 Million by 2020 Tweet

Human augmentation systems – technologies that supplement human strength and durability, or which allow them to reclaim functions lost to illness or injury – have long been the stuff of fiction. However, recent significant strides in the materials sciences and in strength-enhancement and neural technologies are bringing elements of these systems to life, especially in the segments of powered exoskeletons, powered upper-limb prostheses, and ocular sensory-substitution devices.

A new ABI Research market study, “Exoskeletons, Powered Prostheses and Optical Sensory Devices: The Global Market for Human Enhancement/Augmentation Systems," projects that markets for human augmentation systems will grow at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 41% between 2010 and 2020, driving associated annual revenues from just $29 million to more than $877 million.

According to the study, powered exoskeletons — robotic frameworks designed to enhance the strength of the wearer — will see a CAGR of 68% over the forecast period of 2010-2020, and will be used primarily in military and medical settings initially, due to their high cost of manufacture. Advanced powered upper-limb prostheses, which include myoelectric and nerve-controlled limbs with articulating digits, will post a CAGR of 28.5% over the forecast period, while ocular sensory-substitution devices for the blind, such as retinal implants and ocular prostheses, will see a CAGR of almost 75% this decade, with more than 16,000 units to be shipped in 2020.

Practice director Larry Fisher says, "Human augmentation systems are on the cusp of commercial development. In each segment, the technology has reached a level where true augmentation is possible, and the only hurdle that remains is generating a viable business case to deploy the technology."

Mr. Fisher says that significant research funding and publicity have sparked interest from commercial developers. However, he observes, "While there is no doubt that in limited trials these new technologies have produced incredible results, commercial developers must prove that these systems can provide clear benefits in productivity, safety or reduced long-term costs, if commercial customers are to integrate devices such as powered exoskeletons into their future purchasing cycles.”

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