An "exoskeleton" is a protective outer covering that some animals, like insects and crabs, have. It is like a hard armor or shell that helps support their bodies and protects them from harm. Full definition
Real - World Tech: U.S. soldiers may soon have robotic exoskeletons of their own. (discovermagazine.com)
Mobility research, in partnership with Human Performance & Engineering Research, centers on the application of robotic exoskeletons for stroke rehabilitation. (KesslerFoundation.org)
Likewise with a view to potential human - machine interfaces, which could soon become important in enabling patients to walk with exoskeletons or prosthetics. (sciencedaily.com)