Passive vs Active Exoskeleton: Which to Choose for Your Profession?

Two Technologies, Two Approaches

The choice between a passive and an active exoskeleton primarily depends on your needs, profession, and budget. Here is a clear comparison to help you decide.

The Passive Exoskeleton

A passive exoskeleton uses mechanical mechanisms — springs, elastics, carbon or textile structures — to redistribute efforts without external energy input.

• Weight: 300g to 3 kg
• Autonomy: unlimited (no battery)
• Maintenance: almost none
• Price: €500 to €3,000
• Effort Reduction: 10% to 40% depending on the model and task

Ideal for: daily prevention, moderate and repetitive effort positions, environments where lightness is essential.

The Active Exoskeleton

An active exoskeleton incorporates motors, sensors, and a battery to provide assistance proportional to the detected effort.

• Weight: 3 to 12 kg
• Autonomy: 2 to 8 hours
• Maintenance: regular (battery, motors, sensors)
• Price: €5,000 to €45,000
• Effort Reduction: 30% to 60%+

Ideal for: heavy loads, high-strain positions, rehabilitation, contexts where a passive solution is insufficient.

Comparison Table

Which Type for Your Profession?

• Construction, light handling → passive back
• Logistics, picking → passive back or lower limbs
• Overhead work (painting, wiring) → passive shoulders/arms
• Heavy industry, metallurgy → active back
• Rehabilitation, job retention → adapted active

Our Recommendation

For 80% of professional positions, a well-chosen passive exoskeleton will be sufficient and will be better adopted by operators. The passive should be your first reflex. Only switch to active if the job analysis shows that the required effort exceeds the assistance capabilities of a passive.