# Roam Robotics

> Roam Robotics builds lightweight, air-powered wearable exoskeletons that augment human strength, endurance and mobility. Founded by Ekso Bionics veteran Dr. Tim Swift, the San Francisco company replaced the heavy metal of traditional exoskeletons with plastic, fabric and pneumatic actuators - making robotic assistance cheap and light enough to wear all day. Its products span consumer skiing (Elevate), medical knee osteoarthritis relief (Ascend), and military performance (Forge), with clinical data showing 46% average knee-pain reduction and up to 2x strength and endurance gains.

- **Founded:** 2012
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founders:** Tim Swift (Founder & CEO)
- **Team size:** ~18 employees
- **Products:** Elevate, Ascend, Forge
- **Notable:** Raised $12M Series A led by Yamaha Motor in 2018., Built exoskeletons primarily from plastic, fabric and air actuators - dramatically lighter and cheaper than metal exoskeletons., Clinical study showed Ascend delivered an average 46% knee-pain reduction and functional improvement in 67% of participants.

## Products & services

- **Elevate** — Roam's first product - a robotic exoskeleton for skiers that reduces knee pain and muscle fatigue so users can ski longer and stronger. Offered via demo rentals in Lake Tahoe, CA and Park City, UT.
- **Ascend** — A smart, sensor-driven robotic knee orthosis for people with knee osteoarthritis. A clinical study showed an average 46% pain reduction and functional improvement in 67% of participants.
- **Forge** — A modular, ruggedized exoskeleton for military personnel and first responders. Uses pneumatic actuators to deliver roughly 2x strength and endurance, reduce wearer g-forces by up to 50%, and lower exertion during heavy lifting by about 30%.

## Achievements

- Raised $12M Series A led by Yamaha Motor in 2018.
- Built exoskeletons primarily from plastic, fabric and air actuators - dramatically lighter and cheaper than metal exoskeletons.
- Clinical study showed Ascend delivered an average 46% knee-pain reduction and functional improvement in 67% of participants.
- Forge demonstrated ~2x strength and endurance and up to 50% reduction in wearer g-forces.
- Selected for collaborations with elite military units including Navy SEALs and the U.S. Air Force.
- NPR described the robotic knee brace as a potential game changer for millions with osteoarthritis.

## Latest updates

- **2025-09** — Reported additional later-stage funding bringing total raised to roughly $21.4M.
- **2025-01** — Ongoing clinical evaluation (ROAM OA) of the knee brace for medial compartment osteoarthritis at Rush University Medical Center.
- **2022-06** — Featured at Amazon re:MARS for wearable robots helping military personnel; Forge positioned for military and first-responder use.

## Links

- Website: https://roamrobotics.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roamrobotics
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/roamrobotics
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtntZOZJsrwa4SCe6awT-ZQ
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roamrobotics
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roamrobots

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/roam-robotics
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-06-13