A health-tech startup founded by two Waterloo Engineering graduates hit an impressive milestone recently when the total number of steps taken by people using its robotic exoskeleton topped one million.
Trexo Robotics was launched in 2016 by Manmeet Maggu (BASc ’13, mechanical and mechatronics engineering) and Rahul Udasi (BASc ’14, mechanical and mechatronics engineering). The company helps people, especially children, with cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy, brain injuries and other conditions beat the odds and walk.
The device they designed – which features robotic legs and an external walker frame – was inspired by Maggu’s young nephew, Praneit, who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and told he wouldn’t be able to walk independently. The family searched for solutions, but most exoskeletons were being designed for adults.
“The 100 million steps milestone was not something I thought about as a goal,” Udasi said in a statement issued by the Mississauga company. “We wanted kids to take as many steps as they could. It’s amazing, each kid starting with one step and going after their own goals, has added up to an unbelievable number.”
Trexo's primary focus is on assisting children, though the device can technically accommodate some adults, as its primary constraints are weight and leg length. The company aims to expand its offerings to the adult market in the future.