Design Review
Judged presentation of the engineering behind the suit.
The competition journal / 2025
ACE 2025. Our first steps.
Our first year competing at ACE. The team built a functional exoskeleton in just five months and placed 5th overall, against schools that had been at it far longer.
5thOverall finish
Host university
The University of MichiganThe challenge
6 events. One suit.01 / What is ACE?
An entire year. Put to the test.
At the Applied Collegiate Exoskeleton competition, university teams put their wearable machines through first-responder tasks. Engineering and safety are part of the challenge, alongside the physical course.
Safety Check
The suit is cleared for a pilot before it runs anything.
Don/Doff Test
How fast a pilot can get into and out of the suit.
Emergency Doff
Removing the suit under simulated emergency conditions.
Stair Climbing
Powered ascent and descent under the pilot's own control.
Obstacle Course
Full first-responder agility run against the clock.
02 / The photo journal
A first season to remember.
The suit, the people and the work that brought us here. Open any photograph for a closer look.
03 / Keep exploring
Second year competing / Hosted at McMaster
5th overallACE 2026
Build what comes next
Be part of the next chapter.
Help take the next suit from the workshop to the course.