The X-ble shoulder can reduce shoulder load by up to 60 percent and anterior/lateral deltoid muscle activity by up to 30 percent to improve workers’ quality of life.
The X-ble shoulder was designed with user safety as the top priority. It uses carbon composite material and a wear-resistant material used in high-end vehicles. Thanks to the high strength and lightness of the product, it can be used stably and without difficulty even during long working hours. Additionally, the parts that directly touch the user’s body are designed to protect against bodily injuries that may occur on industrial sites through the application of impact resistant material used in the upper part of the vehicle crash pad .
Modular robotic components and removable, washable vest make this product not only easy to manage and adaptable to various work environments, but also compatible with standard work attire from different industries.
The biggest feature of the X-ble Shoulder is that it generates assistive force via the muscle compensation module instead of the electrical system with a non-motorized torque generation structure. There is no need to charge it separately, making it convenient to maintain and manage, and it can be used lightly and safely without a battery.
The assistive force of the X-ble Shoulder is generated by a patented multi-link structure in the muscle compensation module. Each link of the multi-link can be adjusted for optimal assist force in various working environments. The module is expected to perform approximately 700,000 folding and unfolding actions per year in an industrial environment.
The X-ble Shoulder is available in two versions: basic and adjustable. The basic version is ideal for tasks where posture is not fixed and continues to change and offers up to 2.9 kgf of assistive force. The adjustable version, ideal for tasks that repeat the same movement, allows users to adjust the maximum torque angle according to their working posture, providing up to 3.7 kgf of assist force.
The X-ble shoulder weighs approximately 1.9 kg and can be sized to fit the user. Its body length is adjustable between 406 mm and 446 mm. It allows full arm movement from 0 to 180 degrees without hindering work or rest activities.
User feedback significantly influenced the development of the X-ble Shoulder. A pilot test conducted from 2022 to 2024 involved around 300 workers and health officials from Hyundai Motor and Kia factories. User suggestions, including ease of use, comfort, freedom of arm movement, adjustable assist force and ease of cleaning, have been incorporated into product improvements and new features.