
Hyundai Motor and Kia have unveiled a shoulder exoskeleton (SE), a vest-type wearable robot designed to reduce the musculoskeletal burden on the user's arms and shoulders, marking a significant advancement in industrial ergonomics and worker safety.
The two companies' shoulder exoskeleton is dubbed "Xble Shoulder." "Xble" is a combination of "X," which means infinite potential, and "Able," which means anything can be realized, and corresponds to Hyundai Motor and Kia's wearable robot brand.
The two companies held the Wearable Robot Tech Day at Hyundai Motor Studio Goyang in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 27.
The Xble Shoulder was developed using Hyundai Motor and Kia Robotics Lab's proprietary technology. The vest features two main units attached on both sides to assist the arms and shoulders. Notably, it employs a non-powered torque generation structure, making it lightweight and eliminating the need for separate charging, which enhances maintenance and management convenience. The core technology lies in generating assistive force through a muscle compensation module instead of batteries or electric systems.
Users of the Xble Shoulder can experience a reduction in shoulder joint load by up to 60% and a decrease in anterior and lateral deltoid muscle activation by up to 30%. The total product weight is 1.9 kg, with each main unit weighing only 700 g. The length of the main unit can be adjusted from 406 mm to 446 mm, depending on body conditions, ensuring a customized fit for various users.
The shoulder exoskeleton comes in two types: basic and adjustable. The basic type is versatile for workers whose work postures constantly change, providing up to 2.9 kgf of assistive force. The adjustable type is suitable for repetitive tasks in the same posture, delivering up to 3.7 kgf of assistive force. This means that a worker wearing the Xble Shoulder lifting a 10 kg tool would feel a reduced weight of 6 to 7 kg.
The Robotics Lab prioritized user safety and convenience in designing the Xble Shoulder. By applying carbon composite materials used in high-performance vehicles, they achieved 3.3 times the rigidity compared to conventional aluminum materials while reducing weight by 40%. The shoulder joint's bending and extending angle can be implemented from 0 to 180 degrees, allowing free movement of both arms while wearing the product. Additionally, the main unit and vest are detachable, enabling one-sided use if working with only one arm. The vest can be separated and washed for easy hygiene management.
Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to target the wearable robot market with the development of various products. They aim to secure new growth engines by entering promising new markets. They are developing the industrial wearable robot "Xble Waist" to assist the back when lifting heavy objects and the medical wearable robot "Xble Max" for the rehabilitation of walking-impaired individuals. According to Customer Market Insights, the global wearable robot market size is expected to expand more than fourfold from $2.4 billion this year to $13.6 billion by 2033.
Starting next year, Hyundai Motor and Kia will first supply the Xble Shoulder to their production divisions. They will then expand sales to various domestic companies in fields such as construction, shipbuilding, aviation, and agriculture, including 27 affiliates of Hyundai Motor Group. By 2026, they aim to enter overseas markets in Europe and North America, leveraging their domestic sales experience. They plan to increase sales volume by offering competitive prices compared to rival products.
Companies interested in purchasing the Xble Shoulder can make inquiries and consultations through the Hyundai Motor and Kia Robotics Lab website starting Nov. 28. Hyundai Motor and Kia will sequentially deliver products to purchasing companies in the first half of next year. The Robotics Lab provides various data to help companies determine whether to adopt the Xble Shoulder. They measure and analyze the actual movements of workers using motion sensors, quantify the load on muscles and joints during work, and present evaluation indicators showing the degree of load reduction when applying the Xble Shoulder.
Kim Young-hoon, head of Robotics Business 1 Team at Hyundai Motor and Kia Robotics Lab, stated, "We will expand our industrial wearable robot product line in the future," adding, "We will lead the wearable robot market by introducing various new safety solutions incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) technology."