Buffalo Robot

Buffalo Robot Technology emerged from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) Robotics Research Center in 2016, founded by Professor Hong Cheng, Vice Dean of the School of Artificial Intelligence and Executive Director of the Robotics Center. The company focuses on developing powered exoskeleton robots for medical rehabilitation, with particular emphasis on assisting paralyzed patients in regaining walking ability.

Company Overview

As an industrialization base of the UESTC Human-Machine Intelligence Technology and Systems Engineering Research Center, Buffalo Robot combines academic research excellence with commercial product development. The founding team comprises returnee PhDs and senior researchers with extensive experience in robotics, machine vision, and human-robot interaction technologies.

The company was among the first in China to propose the concept of “intelligent rehabilitation,” developing full solutions that span from single-product R&D to integrated rehabilitation department solutions for hospitals. Buffalo Robot achieved National High-Tech Enterprise certification and was designated a Specialized and Sophisticated SME (“Little Giant”) in 2023.

Core Products

AIDER Lower Limb Exoskeleton

The AIDER (Assistive Device for Paralyzed Patients) represents Buffalo Robot’s flagship product—a powered hip-knee gait rehabilitation exoskeleton designed for paraplegia patients. The system weighs 22 kg and accommodates users between 150-180 cm in height. It supports multiple control modalities including EMG (electromyography), EEG (electroencephalography), and hybrid EMG-EEG interfaces.

Key capabilities include:

• Sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit transitions
• Straight-line walking on flat surfaces
• Stair climbing and descending
• Gait training and coordination exercises
• Strength and cognitive training protocols

The AIDER received NMPA Class II Innovative Medical Device registration in 2022, making it among the first batch of certified lower limb exoskeleton robots in China. The company is currently conducting clinical trials for Class III medical device registration, with approval anticipated in the first half of 2026.

Pediatric Lower Limb Exoskeleton

Buffalo Robot’s pediatric exoskeleton was selected for the 2024 Sichuan Province Major Technical Equipment First Set Program, recognizing its innovation in addressing rehabilitation needs for children with mobility impairments.

Brain-Computer Interface Exoskeleton

The next-generation BCI exoskeleton integrates brain signal processing with powered mobility assistance, representing Buffalo Robot’s push into advanced neurotechnology applications.

Technology & Innovation

Spun from UESTC to bring multi-modal BCI control to clinical exoskeletons, Buffalo Robot has deployed its AIDER system in hundreds of hospitals and trained over 10,000 patients.

Buffalo Robot has accumulated 130 patent applications with over 60 granted, including 16 key technologies that have achieved commercial deployment. The company’s technical portfolio spans:

• Multi-modal intention recognition (EMG, EEG, hybrid signals)
• Adaptive gait planning algorithms for slope scenarios
• Energy-efficient compliant actuator designs
• Human-exoskeleton center of mass estimation
• Real-time motion planning and machine learning optimization

The research team has published extensively in IEEE conferences and journals, including ICRA, IROS, and IEEE Transactions on Automation Science and Engineering, demonstrating the academic rigor underlying product development.

Market Presence

Buffalo Robot’s exoskeleton products have been deployed in hundreds of hospitals across China, including West China Hospital (Sichuan University). The company reports serving over 10,000 patients in walking rehabilitation training programs.

Beyond medical rehabilitation, Buffalo Robot is expanding into elderly care applications and industrial exoskeletons, positioning the technology platform for broader market adoption as China’s aging population drives demand for assistive robotics.

Key Milestones

• 2016: Company established as UESTC spinoff
• 2022: AIDER receives NMPA Class II Innovative Medical Device certification
• 2023: Designated Specialized and Sophisticated SME
• 2024: Pediatric exoskeleton selected for Sichuan First Set Program
• 2025: Wu Wenjun AI Science and Technology Progress Award (First Prize)
• 2026: Completed strategic financing round led by Chengdu Science and Technology Innovation Investment Group

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions can Buffalo Robot’s exoskeletons treat?

The AIDER exoskeleton is primarily designed for patients with paraplegia resulting from spinal cord injury (typically T2-L1 levels), stroke, and other neurological conditions affecting lower limb motor function. It supports rehabilitation training to help patients regain walking ability through neuroplasticity-based recovery principles.

Has Buffalo Robot received NMPA certification?

Yes. The AIDER lower limb exoskeleton received NMPA Class II Innovative Medical Device registration in 2022. The company is currently in clinical trials for Class III registration, expected in the first half of 2026, which would expand the approved indications for the device.

What differentiates Buffalo Robot from other Chinese exoskeleton companies?

Buffalo Robot emphasizes multi-modal control systems including brain-computer interface capabilities, distinguishing it from purely EMG-based competitors. The UESTC academic foundation provides strong research backing, while the integrated walker-exoskeleton design (connecting the exoskeleton to a passive robotic walker) addresses balance challenges for patients with compromised upper limb strength.