Exoskeletons are getting lighter, smarter, and more useful in a range of industries, from healthcare and construction to the military. Here’s a rundown of vendors and users.

Military exoskeletons are being developed by China and Japan, which reverse their leadership roles in comparison with civilian exoskeleton development.

Exoskeleton development is an area of technology R&D where China and Japan are pursuing different paths, with implications for military, industrial, and healthcare use.

Cybernic City is a development in Japan that will feature robot helpers that work in the medical, industrial and agricultural industries. Cyberdyne, the startup behind Cybernic City, wants to make visible progress by 2020.