# Bionic Legs In the Future, the Rex Could Replace the Wheelchair By Meghan Young | Published 2010-07-16 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-rex References: [dvice](http://dvice.com/archives/2010/07/even-new-zealan.php) & [engadget](http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/15/rex-the-robotic-exoskeleton-aims-to-make-wheelchairs-obsolete/) The Rex is a set of [bionic legs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/exoskeleton-technology) hailing from a lab in New Zealand that may potentially [replace wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/manual-wheelchair) in the future. Although the wheelchair will forever aid many handicaps and injured individuals, the fact that the Rex can [simulate the motion of walking](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mobility-rehabilitation) is undeniably beneficial and desirable. Although you can see the Rex in action via the video above -- watch Hayden Allen use his legs for the first time in five years -- it is currently too expensive to put on the market at about $150,000 for a set. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.6/10 - Popularity: 24% | Activity: 77% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Health](https://www.trendhunter.com/health) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Bionic Leg Technology:** The development of bionic legs like the Rex presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the field of prosthetics by offering a more advanced and realistic mobility solution for individuals with mobility limitations. - **Assistive Robotics:** The emergence of assistive robots like the Rex highlights disruptive innovation opportunities in the healthcare industry, providing improved mobility and independence for individuals with disabilities. - **Augmented Mobility:** The concept of augmented mobility, as demonstrated by the Rex, opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for the transportation industry by potentially replacing traditional wheelchairs with advanced bionic leg technology. ### Who This Affects Most - **Prosthetics:** The prosthetics industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by integrating bionic leg technology like the Rex to enhance mobility and offer a more natural walking experience for amputees or individuals with impaired mobility. - **Healthcare:** The healthcare industry can seize disruptive innovation opportunities by incorporating assistive robotics such as the Rex to improve patient rehabilitation and enhance the quality of life for individuals with mobility limitations. - **Transportation:** The transportation industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by incorporating augmented mobility solutions like the Rex to revolutionize accessible transportation for those with mobility challenges. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cutting-Edge Medical Exoskeletons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/medical-exoskeleton.md) - [Bionic Knee Prostheses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/httpswwwmediamitedu.md) - [Semi-Outdoor Foldable Wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robooter.md) - [Wheel-Free Assisted Mobility Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toyota-walk-me.md) - [All-Terrain Electric Wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scewo-bro.md) - [Inclusive All-Terrain EVs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/exoquad-v2.md) - [VR Electric Mobility Wheelchairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mobility-wheelchair.md) - [All-Terrain AI Exoskeletons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hypershell.md) - [Advanced Wheelchair Treadmills](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wheely-x.md)