- Hyundai Motor and Kia unveil ‘X-ble Shoulder’ wearable robot to boost industrial efficiency and reduce musculoskeletal injuries through strenuous tasks
- X-ble Shoulder has been designed to assist with overhead work by enhancing upper arm muscle strength and can be used across various industries
- Strong and lightweight X-ble Shoulder unit enhances worker comfort by reducing shoulder load by 60% and muscle activity by 30%
- Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics LAB also announced a commercialization plan for X-ble Shoulder, with deliveries expected to begin in the first half of 2025
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have unveiled a reliable companion for industrial work, the wearable robot ‘X-ble Shoulder.’ This device can increase workers’ efficiency and reduce musculoskeletal injuries. Two videos released on Hyundai Motor Group’s YouTube channel show the X-ble Shoulder in action, including product features and the unit’s development story.
What is the X-ble Shoulder wearable robot?
X-ble Shoulder is a wearable industrial robot developed by Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics LAB, and the first product in the X-ble line. It heralds a new era in wearable technology. When used for ‘overhead work’ where an operative’s arm is raised, X-ble Shoulder can augment the user’s upper arm muscle strength and reduce the burden on the upper musculoskeletal system.
The benefits of Hyundai Motor and Kia Robotics LAB’s X-ble Shoulder wearable robot include:
- Enhancing worker safety
- Reducing musculoskeletal injury
- Improving user comfort
- Boosting efficiency
“The X-ble Shoulder is a wearable robot that leverages the technical capabilities of the Robotics LAB and implements feedback from actual users,” said Dong Jin Hyun, Vice President and Head of Robotics LAB at Hyundai Motor and Kia. “Going forward, we aim to expand the availability of wearable robots, creating products that work naturally with users to enhance their daily lives. By pushing technological boundaries, we will make these beneficial products accessible to more people.”
The X-ble brand – a combination of ‘X,’ symbolizing infinite potential, and ‘able,’ indicating that anything can be realized – heralds a new era in wearable technology.
What are the benefits of the X-ble Shoulder wearable robot?
X-ble Shoulder’s biggest feature is that it generates assistive force through its muscle compensation module instead of an electrical system, with a non-powered torque generation structure. There is no need to charge X-ble Shoulder separately, making it convenient to maintain and manage.
As a result, X-ble Shoulder can reduce shoulder load by up to 60 percent and anterior/lateral deltoid muscle strain by up to 30 percent, improving quality of life for workers.
The X-ble Shoulder was designed with user safety as the top priority. It features carbon composite and wear-resistant materials used in high-end vehicles. Due to the product’s high strength and light weight, it offers ultimate stability and can be used with ease and without strain even for long periods.
Components that directly touch the user’s body are designed to protect against injury that can occur in industrial sites by applying impact-resistant material used in the top part of the unit’s ‘crash pad’.
The modular robotic components and the detachable, washable vest make X-ble Shoulder not only easy to manage and adaptable to various work environments, but also compatible with standard work attire across many different industries.
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.
Where will the X-ble Shoulder wearable robot be used?
X-ble Shoulder can be used in various industries, including:
- Construction
- Shipbuilding
- Aviation
- Agriculture
- Automobiles
- Logistics
What are the X-ble Shoulder wearable robot’s key product features?
X-ble Shoulder comes in two versions: basic and adjustable. The basic version is designed for tasks where the human posture continues to change and offers up to 2.9 kgf of assistive force. The adjustable version is ideal for tasks that repeat the same movement and allows users to set the unit’s angle for maximum torque assistance, providing up to 3.7 kgf of assistive force.
X-ble Shoulder weighs roughly 1.9 kg and can be adjusted to fit the wearer. Body length is adjustable between 406 mm and 446 mm, while the unit 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 between 2022 and 2024 involved approximately 300 workers and health managers from Hyundai Motor and Kia plants. User suggestions were incorporated to deliver improvements focused on:
- Ease of use
- Comfort
- Unrestricted arm movement
- Adjustable assistive force
- Easy cleaning
When will the X-ble Shoulder wearable robot launch?
Hyundai Motor and Kia unveiled the X-ble Shoulder at the Wearable Robot Tech Day held at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, near Seoul. Following the unit’s domestic launch, with deliveries set to commence in the first half of 2025, the companies plan to gradually expand sales to overseas markets.
X-ble Shoulder will be first rolled out in Hyundai Motor and Kia’s production and maintenance departments. From mid-decade, sales are planned to expand to 27 Hyundai Motor Group affiliates, and external companies. Overseas market introduction is being targeted in 2026, including Europe and North America, based on domestic market sales experience.
Robotics LAB offers X-ble Shoulder Integrated Consulting, assisting companies in making data-driven decisions about introducing the wearable robot into their operations. The consultation process includes Process Analysis, which involves analyzing data related to muscle and joint load during work, and Process Suitability Evaluation, which uses specific indicators to assess the suitability of applying the X-ble Shoulder. Post-consultation production and delivery is expected to begin in the first half of 2025.
What can we expect from X-ble in the future?
In addition to X-ble Shoulder, Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to develop an industrial wearable robot, called ‘X-ble Waist’, to assist when lifting heavy loads and help prevent waist and back injuries. Robotics LAB also intends to develop a medical wearable robot, called ‘X-ble MEX’, for the rehabilitation of the walking impaired.
An increase in congenital diseases and accidents is driving the demand for wearable robots in the medical and healthcare industry, followed by growing demand in the manufacturing and defense sectors. According to Mordor Intelligence[1], the Wearable Robots and Exoskeletons Market is estimated at USD 2.55 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 10.25 billion by 2029.
Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics LAB is looking for opportunities to capture the wearable robot market and become leaders in this technology.
Proprietary technologies developed by Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics LAB are already enhancing convenience and productivity in the real world. Since June, the Factorial Seongsu building in Seoul has been leveraging the LAB’s technologies to create an environment where people can focus on their work.