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Mississauga-based Trexo Robotics says its robotic legs device has helped children with disabilities walk over 100 million steps.
Trexo provides a pair of robotic legs, also called an exoskeleton, that is built around an external walker frame. When a person’s legs are attached to the exoskeleton, they are able to independently move while being supported by the frame, allowing them to exercise and build strength. The device is intended to assist children with cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy, brain injuries, and other conditions that affect leg mobility.
Trexo Robotics was founded in 2016 by CEO Manmeet Maggu and CTO Rahul Udasi, two mechatronics engineering graduates from the University of Waterloo. In 2011, Maggu learned that his nephew, Praneit, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and would not be able to walk independently. Maggu’s family searched for solutions, only to find that most existing exoskeletons were being designed for adults.
Trexo keeps a live count of steps made with its device on its website, which finally eclipsed 100 million assisted steps on Nov. 10, ending months of informal office bets, Maggu told BetaKit in an interview.
“To have been a part of creating a world where a child that wishes to walk can actually have the ability to walk is something truly incredible,” Maggu said. “It’s one thing to build a prototype and show that it can be done, which we did with my nephew when I found out he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, but completely different to then collectively take 100 million steps.”
The startup graduated from Techstars’ accelerator program, Y Combinator’s Winter 2019 cohort, and has raised more than $5 million to date, though Maggu declined to disclose any further details.
Maggu said that Trexo has approximately 300 units in use, averaging out to around 333,000 steps per unit. According to Trexo, Mitch, a 10-year-old with an undiagnosed rare genetic disorder, made up more than 2 million of those steps on his own.
While Trexo started by looking to help children with disabilities, Trexo spotlights an adult user named Alex in a recent YouTube video. In the video, Alex testifies that she was able to go from making 30 steps at one time in a manual walker up to 4,000 steps with Trexo. Maggu said that Trexo focuses on helping children, but the main limitation is really just weight and leg length, so technically some adults can use its device. Maggu added that Trexo wants to eventually serve the adult market in the future.
Trexo’s main offering costs nearly $35,000 CAD for small and medium fits, while large and extra large options cost nearly $40,000. Both come with 36-month leasing plans with a $1,000 down payment. Trexo orders come with the exoskeleton, a tablet to operate it with, a training video call, and regular check-ins with Trexo.
Trexo’s website says its price will be increasing to $44,900 for all sizes, but has not announced when that increase will occur.
