Safety + Strength Assistance... Daewoo E&C Advances Wearable Robot Development

Selected for the "Demand-Based Customized Service Robot Development and Distribution Project" Competition

Overview of the Wearable Robot Business Model Demonstration for Construction Site Worker Support.

Daewoo E&C announced on the 20th that it will promote the development and distribution of wearable robots and smart work care services at construction sites in collaboration with the startup WeRobotics and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Institute of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service.

The three companies participated in the 2022 "Demand-Based Customized Service Robot Development and Distribution Project" contest hosted by the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA) and were selected on the 31st of last month for the project titled "Development and Demonstration of Smart Work Care Service Using Wearable Robot Solutions."

This project is a detailed task for proactive regulatory innovation in the robotics field promoted by the government. It involves discovering robot utilization models jointly by the service and robotics industries in sectors such as industrial, commercial, medical, and public services. A technical expert committee composed of specialists verifies safety and effectiveness to establish problem-solving distribution models.

In this contest, Daewoo E&C, WeRobotics, and the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Institute proposed a wearable robot solution that can be worn continuously at construction sites and a smart work care service aimed at addressing workers' musculoskeletal issues and sustainable productivity.

The wearable robots for workers to be used in the project include two types: a "lumbar support robot" and a "walking assistance robot." Designed for muscle strength assistance and continuous wearability at construction sites, these robots feature a weight under 1.5 kg, usage time of 4 to 10 hours, adaptability to various body sizes and shapes, personalized assistance tailored to individuals and tasks, and minimal motion restriction, maximizing effectiveness and usability.

Additionally, data on workers' posture and tasks (load, working hours, frequency, etc.) collected from sensors embedded in the wearable robots will be analyzed to provide services aimed at preventing musculoskeletal disorders and maintaining productivity.

Daewoo E&C expects that once the safety and musculoskeletal injury prevention effectiveness of the muscle strength assistance wearable robots are verified through this project, the wearable robots will be able to be distributed using on-site safety management funds.

A Daewoo E&C official stated, "The development of wearable robots for construction will greatly help prevent safety accidents at construction sites and improve productivity," adding, "If the safety and effectiveness of the robots are proven in the future, we also plan to expand distribution to other industrial sectors."