Hyundai’s Wearable Robotic Shoulder Is Coming to a Mechanic Near You

The device from the Robotics LAB from Hyundai and Kia weighs only 1.9 kg and can reduce the burden on the shoulders by up to 60%.

As robotics continues to reshape industries, Hyundai and Kia are introducing a new wearable device designed to alleviate the physical fatigue of work. This new robotic exoskeleton aims to reduce injuries among workers performing strenuous aerial tasks, making it particularly beneficial for mechanics who spend much of their day hunched under cars.

Developed by Hyundai and Kia’s Robotics LAB, the X-ble Shoulder isn’t just another tech gadget. It is designed to actively support workers who have their arms raised for long periods of time, reducing the load on the shoulders by up to 60%. For anatomy enthusiasts, it also reduces activation of the anterior and lateral deltoid muscles by up to 30%. In other words, it lightens the load, literally and figuratively.

Read: China’s Dongfeng Motors deploys AI-powered humanoid robot for its assembly line

What’s really impressive here is the muscle compensation module that drives the X-ble Shoulder. This intelligent technology can perform an incredible 700,000 folding and unfolding actions per year. It is therefore designed for endurance, and not just for a one-off task.

Obviously, no one is going to want to work all day in a bulky exoskeleton, so Hyundai has made sure this device doesn’t weigh you down. The X-ble Shoulder weighs just 1.9 kg (4.1 lbs), thanks to its carbon composite construction. It’s lightweight, adjustable, and designed to fit snugly without feeling like a straitjacket. It is available in two variants: the basic version offers up to 2.9 kgf of assistive force and is best suited for tasks where posture is not fixed, while the adjustable version offers 3.7 kgf for those who need a little more muscle.

While it’s easy to see how mechanics would benefit from the X-ble Shoulder, the device is far from limited to the automotive world. Hyundai says it will also be suitable for sectors such as construction, shipbuilding, aviation and agriculture.

A market ready for growth

The market for wearable robots and exoskeletons could be worth as much as $10.25 billion by 2029, and Hyundai and Kia’s Robotics LAB is eager to capture a big share of the market. Deliveries of the X-ble Shoulder will begin in Korea in the first half of 2025 before it becomes available in global markets. It is unclear how much this will cost.

And Hyundai doesn’t stop there. The Korean company is also working on an X-ble Waist to help with heavy lifting and reduce back injuries, as well as an X-ble MEX, designed for rehabilitation of people with limited mobility. So it looks like the future of wearable robots could be much more comprehensive than just helping you lift that engine block.