For soldiers and old folks, the Superflex exosuit may help carry the load

By Dyllan Furness Published June 8, 2016

Emerging technologies are increasingly designed to help the elderly. Trials with care robots and artificial intelligence programs have shown positive results in tasks like helping elderly patients remember to take medication, and now, a wearable robotic device called Superflex may soon help geriatrics be more mobile, reports MIT Technology Review.

Developed by Superflex Inc. – a spin-off of SRI International – Superflex is a soft exoskeleton that fits snuggly over the wearer’s body and carries much of the load from the legs, arms, and torso. The device can help the elderly walk, maintain good posture, and grab objects with care, but it isn’t strictly designed for senior citizens. Physically disabled people can find renewed strength by wearing an exoskeleton, as can soldiers who often have to carry tremendous loads.

Recommended Videos

Though elderly citizens often use walkers to help them get around, they aren’t always good for morale. SRI Ventures president Manish Kothari told MIT Technology Review that a walker “completely disempowers, removes dignity, removes freedom, and causes a whole host of other psychological problems … Superflex’s goal is to remove all of those areas that cause psychological-type encumbrances and, ultimately, redignify the individual.”

Superflex won’t offer complete mobility like exoskeletons built by SuitX, Hyundai, and Harvard’s Wyss Institute. But the Superflex will offer built-in sensors that enable the suit to adapt to its wearer’s particular mode of movement, increasing the battery’s efficiency by offering assistance as additional energy is needed. The current prototype takes under five minutes to enter, Kothari told MIT Technology Review, but the commercial version will be designed to slip onto a user in about two minutes or less. These features reduce the Superflex’s size and may make it more practical than its counterparts.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Dyllan Furness is a freelance writer from Florida. He covers strange science and emerging tech for Digital Trends, focusing…

Cars

Cadillac offers first glimpse of upcoming Optiq-V performance EV

cadillac optiq v teaser ev

Cadillac has released the first official teaser images of the 2026 Optiq-V, offering a preview of the brand’s second all-electric model to join the performance-focused V-Series lineup. The images, which highlight subtle styling upgrades, mark the first confirmation of the new variant ahead of its full reveal later this year.
The Optiq-V builds on the foundation of the standard Optiq, Cadillac’s compact electric SUV introduced for the 2025 model year. According to the automaker, this V-Series version will feature a more dynamic driving experience, with enhancements to steering, suspension, and overall agility. While technical details remain limited, Cadillac’s press release emphasizes that the Optiq-V was engineered for “precision” and an “exhilarating” feel behind the wheel.
Reports from CarScoops suggest the Optiq-V could produce up to 515 horsepower through a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, significantly surpassing the 300 horsepower of the base model. Teaser images reveal a diamond-pattern mesh grille, V-Series badging, and a rear spoiler — all nods to its performance orientation. Photos also hint at additional visual updates, such as redesigned bumpers, 21-inch wheels, and larger brakes.
The base Optiq, reviewed recently by Digital Trends, is positioned as Cadillac’s entry-level EV and shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Equinox EV. Despite that connection, the Optiq features premium materials, a curved 33-inch display, Google built-in tech, and standard dual-motor all-wheel drive. While the review noted some drawbacks in steering feel and performance tuning, it praised the vehicle's cabin quality and overall comfort.
The Optiq-V is expected to retain the standard model’s 85-kWh battery and roughly 300-mile range, though final figures have yet to be announced. Cadillac says more details on specs and pricing will be available closer to the model’s official launch.
With the addition of the Optiq-V, Cadillac continues expanding its electric lineup while reinforcing its V-Series as a key part of its identity — now in the EV era.

Cars

Nissan delays price increases until June amid U.S. tariffs

nissan rogue hybrid 2025 2024

Nissan buyers, take note: if you're eyeing a new ride, you might want to make your move before summer. The automaker has announced it won’t raise prices on imported vehicles until at least June 2, giving car shoppers a brief reprieve from the impact of the new 25% U.S. import tariffs.
According to a memo sent to U.S. dealers and reported by Automotive News, Nissan is able to hold prices steady thanks to a stockpile of tariff-free vehicles—enough to last nearly three months. But once that inventory runs dry? Prices are likely heading north. Nissan’s U.S. sales chief Vinay Shahani assured dealers that the company is working to "minimize the impact" of tariffs on customers, but he was also frank: “There will be an impact.”
To soften the blow, Nissan is ramping up production at its U.S. plants in Smyrna, Tennessee, and Canton, Mississippi. Those factories were only running at about half capacity last year, so there’s plenty of room to grow. The Rogue—Nissan’s best-seller—will get a second shift on its assembly line, increasing production by about 60,000 vehicles. Other models like the Pathfinder, Frontier, and Murano will also see higher domestic output.
The goal? Build more cars stateside and dodge the tariff altogether.
Nissan’s move puts it in line with other automakers holding the line on prices—at least for now. Hyundai, Toyota, and Honda have made similar pledges, while rivals like Ford and Stellantis are rolling out temporary discounts to ease the pain.
As Digital Trends noted, Nissan’s decision comes as it rethinks its production and pricing strategy in the face of shifting trade policies and a nervous market. With high-volume imports like the Sentra and Ariya still coming from Mexico and Japan, this pricing grace period might not last long.

Cars

Buick, Audi, and Nissan score top marks in latest IIHS safety ratings

2025 Audi Q6 e-tron front quarter view.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has added four more vehicles to its coveted 2025 Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ lists. If you appreciate knowing your vehicle is built with safety in mind, this update is worth noting.

Among the standout performers: the Audi Q6 e-tron, Buick Enclave, and Nissan Armada—each earning the institute’s highest honor, the Top Safety Pick+ award. The GMC Acadia also made the grade, picking up a Top Safety Pick award. For Buick and GMC, these honors mark a significant return to form, as neither brand had received IIHS awards in several years. In fact, it’s the first time since 2013 that the Enclave has been recognized.
So, how does IIHS hand out these awards? Picture a battery of tests that simulate real-world crashes—everything from small overlap front impacts to updated side crashes. To make the list, vehicles must ace (i.e., earn a “good” rating in) key crashworthiness tests, show competence in pedestrian crash prevention, and offer headlights that don’t blind oncoming drivers. For the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+, there's an extra hurdle: a “good” rating in the updated moderate front overlap test, which now factors in rear-seat passenger protection.
Improvements to the Enclave and Acadia’s headlights, introduced after January 2025, helped push them over the finish line. Unfortunately, not all models in this testing round were so lucky. The Cadillac Lyriq, Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron, Kia K4, and several Nissan models—including the Kicks, Rogue, and Sentra—fell short. Common issues? Poor headlight performance or incomplete testing.
The IIHS notes that these evaluations are ongoing. Not every vehicle released for 2025 has been fully assessed, and late-year updates can still improve a model’s score. For the full list of safety awards, you can check out the IIHS website.