SEOUL—Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. have invented a “wearable robot” that promises to increase worker efficiency and reduce musculoskeletal injuries.

The X-ble Shoulder is an exoskeleton designed to assist assemblers when performing work above their heads. When the arm is raised, it can assist the user’s upper arm muscle strength and reduce the burden on the upper extremity.

Besides automotive assembly lines, Hyundai and Kia anticipate the X-ble Shoulder will find use in various industries, including construction, shipbuilding, aviation and agriculture.

The device is the first of several wearable robots that the carmakers plan to introduce in the next few years. Hyundai and Kia are working on an X-ble Waist to assist the waist when lifting heavy loads, and a medical wearable robot, X-ble MEX, for the rehabilitation of the walking impaired.

“Going forward, we aim to expand the availability of wearable robots, creating products that work naturally with users to enhance their daily lives,” said Dong Jin Hyun, vice president and head of the Robotics Lab at Hyundai and Kia. “By pushing technological boundaries, we will make these beneficial products accessible to more people.”

The X-ble Shoulder can reduce shoulder load by up to 60 percent and anterior and lateral deltoid muscle activity by up to 30 percent. The device is make from carbon composite material and wear-resistant material. Due to the product’s high strength and light weight, it can be used stably without difficulty even for long hours. Also, the parts that directly touch the user’s body are made from impact-resistant material to protect against bodily injury.

The modular robotic components and the detachable, washable vest make this product easy to manage and adaptable to various work environments.

The biggest feature of the X-ble Shoulder is that it generates assistive force through the muscle compensation module instead of an electric system. There is no need to charge the device, making it convenient to maintain and manage, and it can be used lightly and safely without a battery.

The X-ble Shoulder’s assistive force is generated by a patented multi-link structure in the muscle compensation module. Each link can be adjusted for optimal assistive force in various work environments. The module is expected to perform around 700,000 folding and unfolding actions yearly in industrial settings.

The X-ble Shoulder comes in two versions: basic and adjustable. The basic version is best for tasks where the posture is not fixed and continues to change and offers up to 2.9 kilograms of assistive force. The adjustable version, ideal for tasks that repeat the same movement, allows users to set the angle for maximum torque based on their work posture, providing up to 3.7 kilograms of assistive force.

The X-ble Shoulder weighs roughly 1.9 kilograms and can be sized to fit the wearer. Its body length is adjustable between 406 and 446 millimeters. It allows full arm movement from 0 to 180 degrees without hindering work or rest activities.

User feedback significantly influenced the X-ble Shoulder’s development. A pilot trial conducted from 2022 to 2024 involved approximately 300 workers and health managers from Hyundai and Kia plants. User suggestions, including ease of use, comfort, unrestricted arm movement, adjustable assistive force, and easy cleaning, were incorporated into product improvements and new features.