Hyundai brings wearable robotics to factories
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The Hyundai Motor Group will expand the use of wearable robots at its facilities as it works to make robotics a major source of revenue, the company said Monday. Since September, Korea’s largest automaker has been testing the Hyundai Chairless Exoskeleton (H-CEX) at its North American factory. The H-CEX is an assistive robot for workers who have to stay in a seated position throughout the day. By the end of this year, the carmaker will introduce the Hyundai Vest Exoskeleton (H-VEX) at the same facility.
The H-CEX, the first wearable developed by Hyundai for use at production sites, reduces the use of waist and lower body muscles by 80 percent, reducing the fatigue that results from being in the same seated position for a long period of time, Hyundai said in statement. The soon-to-be introduced H-VEX exoskeleton is for workers in jobs that require a lot of arm lifting. The machine vest will support the upper body and protect neck and shoulder muscles.
“By expanding test applications, we hope to prove the technological effectiveness of our wearable robots,” Hyundai said in statement.
The two exoskeletons were developed by Hyundai’s robotics team, established in May after the company named robotics as one of its five pillars for the future.
The team is preparing to launch other robots focusing on three main areas: wearables, service robots and mobility robots.
Hyundai is gearing up to test a hotel robot capable of providing room service and guiding guests. It will be introduced at the Haevichi Hotel & Resort on Jeju Island and at the Rolling Hills Hotel in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, from the end of this year.
“By expanding test applications, we hope to prove the technological effectiveness of our wearable robots,”
A car-selling robot with natural language conversation capabilities and artificial intelligence will be prototyped by early next year. By 2020, the automaker plans to introduce a robot that can autonomously charge electric vehicles at charging stations.
“We believe that robotics could be a solution not only for mobility but also for production in areas suffering from population decline,” a spokesperson for Hyundai said. “We plan to make notable achievements in robotics using technological data we have accumulated while developing autonomous cars.”
Hyundai is not the only automobile maker bringing exoskeletons to assembly lines. U.S. automaker Ford has tested EksoVest, an upper-body assisting wearable jointly developed with Ekso Bionics. It was introduced at two U.S. factories in November last year. Ford announced in August a plan to bring the robot to 15 plants globally.
German automakers BMW and Audi are also developing wearable aids for factory workers.
According to market tracker BIS, the world’s wearable robot market is due to grow by 50 times from $96 million in 2016 to $4.65 billion by 2026.
Questions & Answers
Q.What are the primary benefits of using the new Hyundai wearable robots in factories?
What are the primary benefits of using the new Hyundai wearable robots in factories?
The H-CEX reduces muscle use by 80%, decreasing fatigue for workers in seated positions. The H-VEX supports the upper body, protecting neck and shoulder muscles for jobs requiring frequent arm lifting.
Q.When did Hyundai establish its robotics team and what are its main areas of focus?
When did Hyundai establish its robotics team and what are its main areas of focus?
Hyundai established its robotics team in May, after naming robotics as a key future pillar. The team is developing robots in three main areas: wearables, service robots, and mobility robots.
Q.How is Hyundai positioning itself in the wider robotics market, beyond factory wearables?
How is Hyundai positioning itself in the wider robotics market, beyond factory wearables?
Hyundai is developing service robots like hotel assistants and car-selling robots, with a prototype for the latter by early next year. They also plan a robot for autonomous EV charging by 2020.
Q.Are other car manufacturers also implementing similar wearable technology in their production lines?
Are other car manufacturers also implementing similar wearable technology in their production lines?
Yes, other automakers are also using wearable aids. Ford has tested the EksoVest and plans to expand it globally, while German manufacturers BMW and Audi are also developing such devices for their factory workers.
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