Hyundai and Kia have unveiled X-ble Shoulder, a battery-free robotic shoulder for working professions
Demonstration of the X-ble Shoulder. Source: Hyundai Motor
Hyundai Motor and Kia Corporation have decided to make life easier for workers in industries involving hard physical labour. The companies unveiled the X-ble Shoulder at the Wearable Robot Tech Day event held at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, near Seoul. It is the first device in X-ble's line of exercise-reducing devices. The video embedded below demonstrates how this interesting system works.
What is known about the X-ble Shoulder?
In the name X-ble - the letter "X" symbolises infinite potential and the prefix "able" indicates that nothing is impossible.
The X-ble Shoulder is worn like a waistcoat and helps with overhead tasks. It compensates for arm muscle strength, reduces shoulder strain by up to 60% and reduces anterior and lateral deltoid muscle strain by up to 30%. Best of all, the device works without batteries and does not need charging: its muscle compensation module generates auxiliary force using a patented multi-link structure. The device weighs 1.9kg and can be adjusted to suit the user's physique.
Benefits of the device:
- Reduced risk of injury
- Increased labour efficiency
- Easy to use, even for long working shifts
- Modular design and removable, washable waistcoat
- X-ble Shoulder is made of lightweight and durable materials, and critical elements are covered with impact resistant pads.
Who will use the X-ble Shoulder?
Hyundai and Kia say the X-ble Shoulder will be useful in many industries: construction, aviation, automotive, agriculture, logistics and marine. Depending on the task, a basic model (up to 2.9kgf of auxiliary force) and an adjustable model (up to 3.7kgf) are available.
A demonstration of the X-ble Shoulder at Wearable Robot Tech Day. Photo: Hyundai Motor
X-ble Shoulder will be first introduced in the production and service divisions of Hyundai Motor and Kia. Sales are planned to expand to 27 Hyundai Motor Group branches and external companies from the middle of the decade. Overseas markets are scheduled to be launched in 2026, including Europe and North America.
What's next.
Industrial demand for exoskeletons is growing. Mordor Intelligence predicts that the market for such devices could reach $10.25bn by 2029, so Hyundai and Kia engineers are already working on the following models: the X-ble Waist to protect the back when lifting weights and the X-ble MEX to rehabilitate people with walking impairments.
Source: Hyundai
