EDITOR'S PICKS...

This month's smartest tech

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KNEES-UP

Hips and knees are the party poopers of ageing. There’s just very little you can do to keep the sands of time from eroding your joints. This is what makes these robo-knees from tech startup dnsys potentially life-changing.

Strap them on and the motors will provide up to 900W of power to aid your movement, whether you're hiking, skiing, cycling or just climbing the stairs. What does 900W of extra oomph feel like? According to its creators, the Z1 will make you feel 20kg (44lbs) lighter. To put it another way, it could help you get 24km (15 miles) further on a hike. That will, of course, vary according to your fitness, but you can already watch videos online of Chinese tourists using similar devices to help them scale the 7,000 steps on Mount Tai.

The kit is powered by an AI system that monitors and manages torque, position and force sensors to deliver smooth power support. Plus, to avoid any unwanted goosestepping, the Z1 learns your gait and balance over time.

The Z1 is currently a Kickstarter project, which means, until it's ready for commercial delivery, you can only pre-order it. But beware: as with any pre-order, the release date can move (or get cancelled altogether), so we'd advise doing some research before taking the plunge.

dnsys Z1 dnsys.ai, from $899 (approx £670)

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