"Wearing Robots Makes Work Easier"…Hyundai Motor Begins Selling Wearable Robots

Hyundai Motor·Kia Robotics Lab Unveils New Wearable Robot
Reduces Shoulder Load by Up to 60% to Assist Work
Lightweight, Durable Materials... Enables Hygienic Management
Pre-orders and Consultations Begin from the 28th

"Wearing Hyundai Motor Group's wearable robot ‘X-ble Shoulder’ during work can reduce the load on shoulder joints by up to 60%."

On the 27th, Hyundai Motor Group unveiled the wearable robot ‘X-ble Shoulder’ at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and announced its commercialization plans. Hyundai Motor Group Robotics Lab developed the ‘X-ble Shoulder,’ which assists the user's shoulder and elbow muscles during overhead work, and will begin pre-orders and consultations from the 28th.

At the X-ble Shoulder unveiling event, attendees could try it on and demonstrate its use. A reporter tried overhead work using an electric drill while wearing the ‘X-ble Shoulder.’ The arm support was worn like arm sleeves along with a mesh vest. When lowering the arm, movement was free, but when the angle between the torso and arm exceeded 90˚, the arm support engaged to support the shoulder and arm. Without the robot’s assistance, the shoulder and neck felt stiff, but wearing the robot made the work feel much easier without exerting much effort.

The X-ble Shoulder operates by utilizing the elastic energy of springs installed inside the robot. As the springs stretch and contract, the stored elastic energy is released at the optimal angle of the assistive device to provide maximum force. This design reduces the load on shoulder joints by 60% and decreases the activation of the anterior and lateral deltoid muscles by 30% during work.

A worker wearing the wearable robot 'Xble Shoulder' developed by Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Robotics Lab is demonstrating an overhead work task. Photo by Hyundai Motor Company

The strengths of this robot include its light weight, no need for charging, and hygienic management. Since starting industrial robot research in 2018, the Robotics Lab has gathered feedback from about 300 Hyundai Motor Group field workers and incorporated improvements into the development.

The X-ble Shoulder weighs approximately 1.9 kg. Sizes can be selected according to body conditions. It uses elastic composite materials employed in high-performance vehicles to enhance weight and durability, and impact-resistant materials used in finished car interiors are applied to parts in direct contact with the body to protect the wearer from sudden shocks. It is designed for use on one arm only, and movement is free when the arm is lowered. The vest part that touches the body can be detached for easy washing.

The wearable robot is scheduled to be distributed to Hyundai Motor Group’s domestic factories starting in the first half of next year, with 27 affiliates within the group and companies in various fields such as construction, shipbuilding, aviation, and agriculture identified as potential demand sources. From 2026, it will also be exported to factories in the U.S. and European markets. It will be sold as a package including robot hardware and consulting, so the price will be flexible.

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Robotics Lab are discussing the wearable robot 'Xble Shoulder' product and its development process. Photo by Hyundai Motor Company

The Robotics Lab sells this robot as a package including integrated consulting. When a company wishes to introduce the X-ble Shoulder into their process, the lab quantifies changes in muscle movement and joint load, providing evaluation indicators. The goal is to offer customized solutions optimized for different industrial sites.

The average age of workers in the domestic manufacturing sector this year is 43, increasing by about 3.8 years over the past decade. Thirty percent of domestic manufacturing workers are aged 50 or older. This is why the wearable robot market, which helps repetitive tasks and reduces musculoskeletal injuries among workers, is gaining attention. According to market research firm Customer Market Insight, the global wearable robot market is expected to grow more than fourfold from about $2.4 billion this year to $13.6 billion by 2033.

Hyun Dong-jin, Executive Director of Robotics Lab, said, "The X-ble Shoulder is a wearable robot created by combining feedback from field workers and Robotics Lab’s technology," adding, "We will lead technological progress to provide a better life for humanity."