For nearly a decade, a boy watched his father live with paralysis after a two‑wheeler accident. The daily struggle to move, bathe, and even stand became a harsh reality for the family, and the emotional toll on both the patient and the caregiver was immense.That pain did not just stay with the boy. It actually pushed him to ask a simple, yet powerful question, what if technology could let a paralysed person walk again, well the answer to the question was waiting to unravel.This is the story of a boy whose paralysed father’s condition inspired him to manufacture an AI armor!
Meet Alan Sindhu Dinsha, Kerala youth who built AI-powered armour for paralysed patients moved by his father’s condition (Photo via LinkedIn)
Meet Alan Sindhu Dinsha
Alan Sindhu Dinsha, a 29‑year‑old innovator from Kollam, holds a degree in physics, as well as an MBA from Bengaluru. He first worked in the corporate world before turning his focus to artificial intelligence and launching his startup, Innodots Innovations, about two years ago.The startup’s marquee product is Exobonic, an AI‑powered exoskeleton designed to help paralysed individuals move again. According to information shared by the Kerala Kaumudi, the device works by translating brain signals (measured via EEG sensors) into physical movement. When the user thinks about walking, the suit “understands” the intention and moves the limbs.
What inspired him to build the innovative device
Alan’s motivation sprang directly from his father’s condition. In an interview with OnManorama, he said, “When my father was bedridden, we took care of him ourselves and handled his physiotherapy. We understood how painful it is for both the patient and the bystanders. He now started walking; however, that thought stayed with me.”That memory stayed with him long after his father’s partial recovery. Alan decided to combine AI, robotics, and his startup experience to create a practical solution for people with lower‑limb paralysis, stroke‑related disability, or spinal injuries.
How Exobonic works
Exobonic was developed under the Exobonic brand by a team that includes Al Imtiaz and Arun Aravindakshan from Sree Chithira Thirunal College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, along with others. The device is fully pneumatic, and uses air‑pressure‑driven chambers instead of traditional motors to move the legs and support the body.As Alan explained to OnManorama, the team first experimented with converting audio signals to movement and then asked, “Why not our thoughts?” Collaborating with Kadakkal Kimsat Hospital, they collected and analysed EEG data (brainwave signals) from volunteers, used AI to identify patterns, and built a program embedded in a chip attached to the suit.When the user thinks of walking, the AI reads the EEG signal and triggers the exoskeleton to move the leg forward, while the wearer does not need to apply physical force. The company says the current prototype is about 85 percent accurate and can support users up to 80 kg, with assistance needed to put on the suit if the person is fully paralysed.
Impact and future plans
The prototype currently weighs around 35 kg and costs about ₹6 lakh, but the team expects the price to fall as the device is mass‑produced in India. In the future, Exobonic may not only help patients walk in clinics and at home, but also find use in defence and rescue situations, where the suit can make heavy loads feel lighter and protect users in difficult terrain.
