Robot in backpack

Robot in backpack

Hyundai Motor and Kia's Robotics LAB announce the launch of "X-ble Shoulder" at the "Wearable Robot Tech Day". The wearable robot is designed to assist with overhead work by supporting upper arm muscle strength. The stable yet lightweight X-ble Shoulder can reduce shoulder strain by 60% and muscle activity by 30%. The device thus increases the efficiency of activities and at the same time reduces the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Hyundai Motor and Kia presented the “X-ble Shoulder” at the “Wearable Robot Tech Day” in the Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang near Seoul. The “X-ble” brand – a combination of “X”, meaning infinite potential, and “able”, meaning anything is possible – ushers in a new era of wearable technology. Hyundai Motor and Kia expect that the X-ble Shoulder can be used not only in the automotive sector, but also in various other industries such as construction, shipbuilding, aviation and agriculture. After launching in South Korea, the companies plan to gradually expand sales to overseas markets.

In addition to the "X-ble Shoulder", Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to develop a wearable industrial robot "X-ble Waist", which supports the waist when lifting heavy loads, and a wearable medical robot "X-ble MEX" for rehabilitation of people with walking difficulties. "The X-ble Shoulder is a wearable robot that leverages the technical capabilities of the Robotics LAB and implements feedback from actual users. In the future, we want to expand the availability of wearable robots and develop products that work naturally with users to assist in everyday life," said Dong Jin Hyun, vice president and head of Robotics LAB at Hyundai Motor and Kia. A special feature of the “X-ble Shoulder” is that the supporting force is not generated by an electrical system, but by a muscle compensation module that can also be used without a battery.