These bionic legs are so light, paraplegics can wear them under clothing

It takes just 26 pounds of hardware to get Steven Sanchez walking again. He lost the use of his legs more than a decade ago in a BMX biking accident. Now Sanchez serves as test pilot for an innovative, lightweight exoskeleton from SuitX called Phoenix.

Unveiled on Monday, the wearable robot is the result of years of work and stands apart from bulky, heavy and extremely expensive exoskeletons, like the one a partially paralyzed man wore to make the opening kick at the 2014 World Cup.

“It felt really freeing, being able to stand up and feel my legs move around and being able to move through the hallways without people kind of afraid of a wheelchair," said the 28-year-old Sanchez, describing to Mashable the first time he used Phoenix. Read more...