Tourists Looking to climb China’s sacred Mount Tai, in Shandong Province, can now do so with the help of a lightweight AI-powered exoskeleton that makes hiking a breeze.

Clips of elderly tourists climbing up Mount Tai, one of the five sacred mountains in China, while wearing bizarre gear around their hips have been going viral on Chinese social media, sparking all kinds of strange theories. In reality, the tourists are wearing light exoskeletons offered by the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group on a trial basis. Weighing only 1.8 kg (4lbs), these advanced exoskeletons are reportedly fitted with a series of sensors that allow them to detect and analyze every movement of the wearer’s lower limbs and provide just the right amount of assistance in a timely manner, effectively reducing the burden on the legs.

According to UDN, the AI-powered exoskeletons recently unveiled by the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group can provide assistance for about 5 hours or 14 kilometers on a single charge. They are primarily designed for older people who want to climb Mount Tai but no longer can because of their deteriorating physical condition.

 

Tourists lucky enough to be offered a personal exoskeleton appeared impressed by its capacity to detect movements and offer just the right level of assistance. The lightweight gadget is still in the trial phase, but if successful, it could be used in various work and life scenarios, such as physically demanding jobs, running, and fitness.