Inspired by tendon mechanics, the battery-free device, which weighs 2 kg, is worn around the hips and above the knees, capturing and storing some of the energy generated by the body's own efforts, before releasing it to assist with walking.

"Exoskeleton robotics support seniors with weaker muscles, enhancing mobility through force compression and release, rotation speed and angle adjustments," said Yan. Even physically fit young people can get 30 percent assistance when wearing it.

"China's exoskeleton robots, set for significant growth in the field of elderly care, have mastered key technologies like ergonomic design, motion recognition and self-learning AI that dynamically refine movement patterns," said Chen Zhiran, director of the Digital Economy Research Office at Zhejiang Development and Planning Institute.

China's increasing elderly population faces widening unmet mobility needs, resulting in overburdened rehabilitation therapists and an annual shortfall in terms of rehab therapy graduates.

Latest data shows that by the end of 2024, China's population aged 60 and above had reached 310 million -- accounting for roughly 22 percent of its total population.