The wearable robot ‘X-ble Shoulder.’ can increase workers’ efficiency and reduce musculoskeletal injuries.
The X-ble Shoulder, the first product in the X-ble line, is an industrial wearable robot developed by Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics LAB. It heralds a new era in wearable technology. When used in ‘overhead work’ where the arm is raised, it can assist the user’s upper arm muscle strength and reduce the burden on the upper extremity musculoskeletal system.
Hyundai Motor and Kia anticipate the X-ble Shoulder will find use in various industries, including construction, shipbuilding, aviation and agriculture, not just automobiles. Following its domestic launch, the companies plan to gradually expand sales to overseas markets.
In addition to the X-ble Shoulder, Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to develop an industrial wearable robot ‘X-ble Waist’ to assist the waist when lifting heavy loads, and a medical wearable robot ‘X-ble MEX’ for the rehabilitation of the walking impaired.
Enhancing Worker Safety and Comfort with X-ble Shoulder
The X-ble Shoulder can reduce shoulder load by up to 60 percent and anterior/lateral deltoid muscle activity by up to 30 percent reduction to improve the quality of life of workers.
The X-ble Shoulder was designed with user safety as the top priority. It uses carbon composite material and wear-resistant material used in high-end vehicles. Due to the product’s high strength and light weight, it can be used stably without difficulty even for long hours of work. Also, the parts that directly touch the user’s body are designed to protect against bodily injury that can occur in industrial sites by applying impact-resistant material used in the top part of the vehicle’s crash pad.
The modular robotic components and the detachable, washable vest make this product not only easy to manage and adaptable to various work environments, but also compatible with standard work attire across different industries.
The biggest feature of the X-ble Shoulder is that it generates assistive force through the muscle compensation module instead of the electric system with a non-powered torque generation structure. There is no need to charge separately, making it convenient to maintain and manage, and it can be used lightly and safely without a battery.
The X-ble Shoulder’s assistive force is generated by a patented multi-link structure in the muscle compensation module. Each link in the multi-link can be adjusted for optimal assistive force in various work environments. The module is expected to perform around 700,000 folding and unfolding actions yearly in industrial settings.
The X-ble Shoulder comes in two versions: basic and adjustable. The basic version is best for tasks where the posture is not fixed and continues to change and offers up to 2.9 kgf of assistive force. The adjustable version, ideal for tasks that repeat the same movement, allows users to set the angle for maximum torque based on their work posture, providing up to 3.7 kgf of assistive force.
The X-ble Shoulder weighs roughly 1.9 kg and can be sized to fit the wearer. Its body length is adjustable between 406 mm and 446 mm. It allows full arm movement from 0 to 180 degrees without hindering work or rest activities.
User feedback significantly influenced the X-ble Shoulder’s development. A pilot trial conducted from 2022 to 2024 involved approximately 300 workers and health managers from Hyundai Motor and Kia plants. User suggestions, including ease of use, comfort, unrestricted arm movement, adjustable assistive force, and easy cleaning, were incorporated into product improvements and new features.
