The Wyss Insitute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University is on its way to building a “wearable robot”: a biologically inspired smart suit that will fit comfortably under clothing and enhance the mobility of its wearer. On Thursday, this Soft Exosuit received a first-phase, $2.9 million funding contract from the Defense Advanced Research Protection Agency (DARPA), advancing development of the wearable robot that could eventually serve not just soldiers, but the elderly and those with disabilities.

The official release notes that DARPA’s Warrior Web program will seek to enhance the mobility of the healthy (like soldiers who may have to walk long distances) while restoring mobility of those with disabilities; for instance, those who suffer from strokes often have trouble walking.

What sets the Soft Exosuit apart from other existing wearable robots is the model’s lack of rigid components and cumbersome, sturdy outer shells and battery packs that make movement feel unnatural. The Exosuit uses soft textiles made to be worn under clothing and pulled on like a pair of pants. Once on, the biologically inspired suit is designed to mimic human movement while assisting joints in a carefully timed, unrestrictive manner.

Conor Walsh, assistant professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering at Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, shared in a statement, “While the idea of a wearable robot is not new, our design approach certainly is.”

Therefore, the success of the Soft Exosuit, and its ability to be used both among military personnel and the average civilian, is implied within its comfortable-wear design. To execute this, the Wyss Institute has partnered with Boston-based athletic footwear and apparel company New Balance as the Exosuit’s manufacturing advances. The release cites New Balance as a “key collaborator” that will bring “expertise in textile and apparel innovation” to the newest phase of the wearable robot.