Industrial exoskeleton could boost strength of factory workers

Developed through the €4.6m EU-funded Robo-Mate project the prototype system is part of an effort to reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries amongst factory workers.

The exoskeleton consists of a lightweight, flexible, easy-to-wear, and fully movable upper body and a stability providing lower body.

With a maximum weight of 30kg and a size of 1.6m to 1.8m, it enables workers to move locally, and can be used both as posture support, and to augment the strength of its user.

The arm modules are attached to the upper and lower arms and use motors to deliver a tenfold reduction in the force acting on workers when lifting an object. The wearer’s spine and back is protected by a trunk module which helps to keep the torso straight when carrying out lifting and bending tasks, whilst leg modules provide further support and remove strain from the wearer’s thighs.

One of the key elements of the project saw the researchers work closely with industrial partners in order to gain a fuller understanding of the kind of stresses and strains the human body can encounter in a production environment.