The global aging trend is becoming increasingly severe, and the demand for life assistance and medical rehabilitation for frail and disabled elderly people is growing. As the best solution for assisting limb movement, guiding limb rehabilitation, and enhancing limb strength, exoskeleton robots are becoming the focus of attention from all walks of life. This paper reviews the progress of research on upper limb exoskeleton robots, sEMG technology, and intention recognition technology. It analyzes the literature using keyword clustering analysis and comprehensively discusses the application of sEMG technology, deep learning methods, and machine learning methods in the process of human movement intention recognition by exoskeleton robots. It is proposed that the focus of current research is to find algorithms with strong adaptability and high classification accuracy. Finally, traditional machine learning and deep learning algorithms are discussed, and future research directions are proposed, such as using a deep learning algorithm based on multi-information fusion to fuse EEG signals, electromyographic signals, and basic reference signals. A model with stronger generalization ability is obtained after training, thereby improving the accuracy of human movement intention recognition based on sEMG technology, which provides important support for the realization of human–machine fusion-embodied intelligence of exoskeleton robots.

Upper limb exoskeleton robots, as highly integrated wearable devices with the human body structure, hold significant potential in rehabilitation medicine, human performance enhancement, and occupational safety and health. The rapid advancement of high-precision, low-noise acquisition devices and intelligent motion intention recognition algorithms has led to a growing demand for more rational and reliable control strategies. Consequently, the control systems and strategies of exoskeleton robots are becoming increasingly prominent. This paper innovatively takes the hierarchical control system of exoskeleton robots as the entry point and comprehensively compares the current control strategies and intelligent technologies for upper limb exoskeleton robots, analyzing their applicable scenarios and limitations. The current research still faces challenges such as the insufficient real-time performance of algorithms and limited individualized adaptation capabilities. It is recognized that no single traditional control algorithm can fully meet the intelligent interaction requirements between exoskeletons and the human body. The integration of many advanced artificial intelligence algorithms into intelligent control systems remains restricted. Meanwhile, the quality of control is closely related to the perception and decision-making system. Therefore, the combination of multi-source information fusion and cooperative control methods is expected to enhance efficient human–robot interaction and personalized rehabilitation. Transfer learning and edge computing technologies are expected to enable lightweight deployment, ultimately improving the work efficiency and quality of life of end-users.