68 August 2019 http://www.designworldonline.com DESIGN WORLDThe Robot Report
Providers by Exoskeleton Type
As the nascent wearable robotics market
grows, the number of exoskeleton providers
is also growing. The diversity of currently
available commercial exo-skeletons reflects
the widely ranging backgrounds and core
historical strengths of suppliers. They can be
distinguished by their products’ design and
intended use.Arms, upper and lower body: Exoskeletons
come in many forms, including systems that
attach at the hip and transmit weight to
the floor such as Lockheed Martin’s FORTIS
or Noonee’s Chairless Chair, which can
lock in place and act as a seat. Others,
such as StrongArm Technologies’ FLx
ErgoSkeleton, are upper body systems,
while still others assist hands in
gripping, like Bioservo Technologies’
Ironhand.Powered and unpowered: Although
most exoskeletons use batteries to
power actuation and assistance, some
rely on non-traditional sources such as
elastic systems. Examples of powered
exoskeletons include ATOUN’s Power Assist
ARM, Innophys’ Muscle Suit, Cyberdyne’s
HAL for Labor Support, RB3D’s HERCULE,
Sarcos Robotics’ Guardian XO, and
Noonee’s Chairless Chair.
In contrast to powered exoskeletons,
unpowered or “passive” devices increase
strength and provide stability through a
combination of human-guided flexion/
extension and locking mechanisms.
Unpowered industrial exoskeletons include
Ottobock’s Paexo, Levitate Technologies’
AIRFRAME, suitX’s MAX Exoskeleton Suit,
StrongArm Technologies’ FLx ErgoSkeleton,
Laevo’s Laevo, and Lockheed Martin’s
Fortis.Advances in industrial exoskeletons, as well as increasing familiarity
with their potential on the part of businesses, is increasing testing and
adoption. The Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, in which equipment is
leased or rented rather than bought outright, is also helping to alleviate cost
and risk concerns.
Industrial exoskeletons are finding early use cases in automotive
manufacturing because of the repetitive, labor-intensive nature of the work.
Other applications include logistics, retail, and construction.
While both suppliers and early users are typically reluctant to discuss trials,
some large international companies have openly shared their exoskeleton
experiences, which have been mostly positive.Hyundai: In 2018, Hyundai Motor Group began testing its Hyundai Vest
Exoskeleton (H-VEX), which pressure on workers’ neck and back, at a North
American Hyundai-KIA factory. This follows trials of the Hyundai Chairless
Exoskeleton (H-CEX), a knee joint sustainability device that maintains the
sitting position of workers. According to Hyundai, both the H-CEX and H-VEX
systems are designed to reduce injuries and increase worker efficiency.Ford: Following a pilot program with exoskeleton maker Ekso Bionics, Ford
last summer introduced 75 of Exo Bionics’ upper-body exoskeletons across 15
automotive plants worldwide. Ford stated that the exoskeletons, which assist
employees performing overhead tasks, should reduce the number of repetitive
motion injuries.BMW: A BMW assembly plant in South Carolina is using Levitate
Technologies’ AIRFRAME exoskeleton. The unpowered, upper-body
exoskeletons are also being trialed at other BMW plants. Levitate
representatives claimed that AIRFRAME can reduce exertion levels by up to
80% for tasks involving repetitive arm motion.Adoption and Testing
Ford purchased 75 EksoVest
exoskeletons from Ekso Bionics to
reduce workforce injuries.
| Fordmaxon motor’s Exoskeleton Drive. | maxonFord-Exoskeleton_Robot Report 8-19_Vs5.LL.indd 68 8/5/19 12:29 PM