The aim of this master’s thesis is to investigate the potential of exosuits for everyday mobility when walking in hilly urban environments through an experimental field study. The main focus is on how the use of an exosuit under realistic conditions affects objective and subjective measures of mobility, and how potential users evaluate the suitability of such a system for everyday use. As part of the thesis, the student will design and conduct an experiment in which participants complete a predefined route in a hilly environment on foot, both with and without an exosuit. Selected indicators such as travel time and heart rate will be collected to analyze the effects of the exosuit on physical effort and walking efficiency. In addition, a questionnaire will be used to examine how participants assess the exosuit in terms of potential use, perceived usefulness, comfort, safety, and acceptance.

The thesis includes:
- a literature review on exosuits, walking in hilly environments, active mobility, field experiments, and technology acceptance
- the design and planning of an experimental study
- the organization and implementation of field data collection
- the collection and processing of objective data (e.g., travel time, heart rate)
- the administration and analysis of an accompanying participant survey
- the statistical analysis and integrated interpretation of objective and subjective results
- the discussion of findings with regard to the potential, limitations, and applications of exosuits in everyday mobility

How does the use of an exosuit affect objective and subjective measures of mobility when walking in a hilly urban environment, and how do participants evaluate its suitability for everyday use?
 

Fundamental Research