- Nationwide giveaway recognizes six veterans and their personal goals to stay active and enjoy more of the activities they love
- More than a decade of U.S. military-funded research and development helped lay the foundation for the Sidekick, now available to everyday consumers
- Dephy's Sidekick™ leads a new generation of American-designed ankle exoskeleton technology as the only consumer model commercially available today
BOXBOROUGH, Mass., Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Dephy, a pioneer in powered-walking and exoskeleton technology, today announced the six winners of its nationwide Veterans Day giveaway. Each veteran will receive a Sidekick™ Starter Pack valued at $4,500, featuring the company's ankle-powered consumer exoskeleton designed to help people walk farther with less effort.
The technology behind the Sidekick™ has its origins in more than a decade of research and development, first in the MIT Media Lab and then in partnership with the U.S. Armed Forces. Dephy, founded by Luke Mooney, PhD, and biomechatronics researcher Hugh Herr, PhD, worked with the U.S. Army and Air Force to improve how ankle-powered exoskeletons could help soldiers carry heavy loads across challenging terrain. That research, supported by military funding and years of testing, laid the foundation for the Sidekick™ system, which launched commercially in January 2026. Today, Dephy is the only company delivering a consumer ankle exoskeleton designed and engineered in the United States.
Dephy launched the Veterans Day giveaway to thank the military community for its contributions to the company's development and recognize veterans who want to stay active and keep doing the things they love. Veterans and their loved ones across the country were invited to submit nominations describing their interests, aspirations and what staying active means in their everyday lives. The submissions reflected a wide range of personal goals, from spending more time outdoors and traveling to simply getting out and moving with family and friends. Dephy selected six recipients based on their stories, goals for physical activity and compatibility with the Sidekick™.
The six recipients of the Veterans Day giveaway are:
- Derek Benson, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Kimberly, Idaho - Served from 2000 to 2004, completing two deployments. An outdoor enthusiast, Benson will use the Sidekick™ to help him enjoy longer family hikes, explore nature and spend more time outdoors with his wife and daughters.
- Geoffrey Greene, U.S. Army veteran, Cameron, Texas - A father of two young children who hopes to participate more fully in family walks, outdoor adventures and everyday activities. Greene looks forward to spending more time exploring the outdoors alongside his children.
- Derek Smith, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Abilene, Texas - A father of three daughters who wants to make walking a more consistent part of his routine. Smith will use the Sidekick™ to help him build his activity level and enjoy more outdoor experiences with his family.
- Dan Miller, U.S. Army veteran, Los Angeles, California - Nominated by a longtime friend who described his determination to stay active. Miller enjoys bodybuilding and hopes to take longer walks along the Southern California coast, explore local hiking trails and enjoy more time outdoors.
- Stacey Crowe, U.S. Army veteran, Beaver Dam, Kentucky - An elementary school teacher who hopes to keep pace with his students and fellow teachers. An avid outdoorsman, Crowe also looks forward to spending more time hunting, fishing and exploring trails with his two sons.
- Erin Kennedy, U.S. Air Force Reserve veteran, Bear, Delaware - Hopes to enjoy more everyday outings with her son and dogs. Among Kennedy's goals are returning to family walks in the park and enjoying a trip to Walt Disney World on foot.
"The military community played an important role in helping us turn an idea born in a research lab into technology that could make a difference in their everyday lives," said Luke Mooney, PhD, CEO and co-founder of Dephy. "The people who helped advance our earliest technology are part of the reason the Sidekick™ exists today, which makes giving it to veterans especially meaningful. We're grateful for this community's contributions to the evolution of Dephy's technology, and I hope these six veterans find that the Sidekick™ opens up new possibilities for where they go, how they spend their time and what they enjoy doing."
The Sidekick™ is a consumer wellness product that provides powered assistance at the ankle to make walking less physically demanding. The wearable system learns an individual's walking pattern in about 20 strides, then delivers a precisely timed boost of power with each step that adapts to the wearer's natural gait. Designed for people who can walk independently, the Sidekick helps users go farther and stay active throughout their daily routines.
Dephy's research has been supported in part by the U.S. Army and Air Force, and the company is proud to build on that work for everyday consumers. This release does not imply endorsement by the Department of War.
To learn more about Dephy and the Sidekick™ system, visit here.
About Dephy
Dephy is a bionic footwear and apparel company focused on creating human-centered technologies that enhance movement and independence. Its flagship product, the Sidekick™, is a new category of personal powered footwear designed to support natural walking and help people move farther with less effort in daily life. By combining proprietary engineering with deep insight into how people move, Dephy develops wearable systems that expand physical capability and support everyday mobility. Learn more at www.dephy.com.
Media Contact
dephy@hermespr.co
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