McMaster engineering students suited up to showcase their skills at this year’s Applied Collegiate Exoskeleton (ACE) Competition.
Last month, the McMaster Exoskeleton team traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan to compete in ACE, a competition that tests real-world capabilities of exoskeletons. These wearable devices are designed to support and assist movements. It increases agility for faster movement, boosts strength for intense physical tasks and improves stability for better coordination. Each team’s exoskeleton was designed and built by undergraduate students from around the world.
This was McMaster’s first time competing at ACE, aligning with the inaugural year of McMaster Exoskeleton. The team made an impressive mark, placing fifth amongst international competitors.
Launching in January 2025, McMaster Exoskeleton faced one of their biggest challenges: time. The team had to secure sponsors, find equipment and assemble the suit, all within a tight timeframe. Additionally, during the competition, they had to build the entire exoskeleton on-site, as it was too large to transport fully assembled. Nonetheless, they pushed through and delivered an impressive performance.
The team credits the McMaster Engineering Society as their largest financial sponsor and appreciated the guidance from engineering faculty members and professors who shared their expertise and advice.
Faced with time constraints and logistical hurdles, the team found strength through their collaboration. They said, “Resourcefulness, communication and shared vision matter more than experience alone. Working in a club together is not just about dividing tasks, it’s about carrying each other through uncertainty and working as a cohesive function.”
Although many team members had only just met, everyone was committed to working together toward a shared goal. As they reflected on the experience, they recognized the immense value of witnessing a talented group not only embrace their individuality but also pour remarkable effort into their work.
“I love the honesty and humility of everyone in the club and how people are never afraid to learn something new.”
With this strong start, McMaster Exoskeleton is excited for future competitions, building on their success and continuing to push the boundaries of their design and ingenuity.
Five things to know about McMaster Exoskeleton:
- We are a resilient group of McMaster students who tackle challenges head-on.
- There’s a lot of talent across our team with individuals bringing different experience and expertise to the table.
- We have fun!
- Collectively, we’re motivated to improve and build new iterations of our suit
- We’re a multidisciplinary team that consists of a mechanical, electrical and software team, as well as a business/sponsorships team.