- Enhanced Muscle Support: Assists upper arm strength, reducing physical strain during overhead tasks.
- Lightweight and Durable: Weighs only 1.9 kg and made with carbon composite materials for strength and comfort.
- Adjustable and User-Friendly: Modular design fits all body types and supports full arm motion without hindrance.
- Non-Powered Efficiency: No batteries required, utilizing a patented multi-link structure for torque generation.
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation unveiled the ground-breaking wearable robot called ‘X-ble Shoulder’ at Wearable Robot Tech Day at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, Seoul. This new device helps build strength on the upper arm as well as reduces musculoskeletal stress; therefore, it is the innovation in wearable technology to revolutionize the concept of efficiency in industries with comfort, safety, and practicality.
Redefining Industrial Efficiency
The X-ble Shoulder robot is specifically engineered to reduce shoulder load by up to 60% and muscle activity by 30%. By supporting overhead work, the wearable is expected to revolutionize various industries such as construction, aviation, shipbuilding, agriculture, and automotive manufacturing. This lightweight device ensures worker comfort and safety, while its innovative design eliminates the need for external power sources, making it convenient and eco-friendly.
Core Comfort and Safety
While designing the X-ble Shoulder, Hyundai and Kia placed emphasis on safety features. The material used resembles those found in luxury models for added strength and absorption. The ergonomic design further reduces stress, and this vest is easily washable, as well as quite modular for high adaptability and maintenance.
Commercialization and Future Expansion
The Robotics LAB has declared a strategic roadmap for the X-ble Shoulder’s commercialization. The robot will go into mass production in the first half of 2025, focusing first on Hyundai and Kia‘s industrial operations. Plans are set to expand its application to other industries and to enter international markets in Europe and North America by 2026.
LAB is also developing other wearable robots like X-ble Waist for heavy lifting and X-ble MEX for medical rehabilitation. With the wearable robot market estimated to boom globally, Hyundai and Kia will be at the forefront of this high-tech industry.
A Glimpse into the Future
User feedback has been instrumental in the development of the X-ble Shoulder. A three-year pilot test with 300 employees has made its features user-friendly, comfortable, and efficient. Robotics LAB conceives a world where the life of human beings and robots may coexist; technological innovation in all aspects will solve the complexities of living.
