New Opportunities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Power Exoskeleton

A powered suit called an exo-suit or powered exoskeleton has appeared frequently in sci-fi and action movies. Since the first powered suit called Hardiman was introduced and developed by General Electric and the U.S. Armed Forces in the 1960s, reinforcement suits or exoskeleton robotics are no longer just a movie subject. They have already been put into practical use in various fields. Motorized exoskeletons have been primarily developed for military and medical purposes. Recently, this technology has been adopted to improve work efficiency in industrial sites. This convergence of human and technological solutions can play a key role in Industry 4.0 because robots and automation cannot fully replace humans. 

New Technology Improves Productivity While Maintaining Worker Health 

The recent development and application of exoskeleton robotics in manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture allow workers wearing them to perform repetitive tasks faster and more accurately and prevent joint (e.g., knee, shoulder) injuries when handling heavy objects.
In Japan, companies are utilizing exoskeleton suits to enable the elderly to stay employed for longer. One such company, Innophys, is building suits that are worn like a backpack. This suit offers support in the form of hydraulically controlled artificial muscles. When the artificial muscles contract, they pull the wires fixed to the thigh frame, and the thigh pads help absorb and reduce the counterforce of the thigh frame, as Figure 1 shows. A person wearing an Innophys suit can lift 55 lbs (24 kg).

Hyundai Motor Group, a Korea Automotive company, is commercializing wearable robotics. Vest EXoskeleton (VEX) is also worn like a backpack with chest and waist buckles. It enhances productivity and reduces fatigue of industrial workers. VEX ran a pilot program in two Hyundai plants in the US and had a positive review in boosting the productivity of production lines. Hyundai plans to develop another lightweight wearable device called Chairless EXoskeleton that supports workers in maintaining a sitting position without a stool or chair.

Figure 1. Powered Exoskeleton Examples

(Source: Innophys, Hyundai Motor Group)

In addition, intelligence control is being integrated into the exoskeleton suit. Recently, German company German Bionic announced a fully connected exoskeleton suit called Cray X for industrial use. The connected exoskeleton suit lifts and moves heavy loads while providing onsite monitoring capability that collects worker behavior for analysis to improve productivity and safety by tailoring updates to workers' needs.

A New Wave Is on Its Way

The powered exoskeleton has emerged in industrial applications, helping improve productivity. Internet of Things and data analytics are starting to be integrated into exoskeleton suits to enhance the productivity of production lines and safety for workers. Additionally, as a service applications might contribute to the market growth of powered exoskeletons. Emerging exoskeleton suit solutions have substantial market potential, though time will tell whether they gain significant market traction.