Exoskeletons May Have Significant Impact on the Workplace of the Future
Published on : Thursday 16-04-2020
Today, we all are equipped with technology, and everything now has relied on it. Without this, we can’t even live as it has entered to all aspects of our lives. With passing times, the introduction of digital technologies is expanding rapidly and enabling enterprises to do their works more efficiently. Now, we have reached another milestone by bringing Exoskeletons, a wearable machine or the external skeleton that supports and protects the body, whether that is human or animal.
Exoskeletons are making it possible for individuals to perform more physical work safely. The first exoskeleton was produced in 1965 for military use, since then their popularity has been increasing, especially in manufacturing. As exoskeletons play an important structural role in determining the form of the body, they support workers and improve the quality of their working hours.
Over the last decade, there has been seen a significant proliferation of companies developing exoskeleton devices for assistive technology and therapeutic rehabilitation. According to reports, more than 7,000 units of exoskeleton were sold in manufacturing in the year 2018. But there is a need that would be 60,000 units for all types of exoskeletons, with an estimated growth rate of over 50% between the period of 2019 and 2024.
Despite the automation of some of the work across industries, human interference is still required and remains crucial for several operations. But some work more hazardous for human workers and require a high level of precision. In this scenario, wearable robotic technologies assist workers in their jobs.
For example, MATE exoskeleton, which is designed by Comau, an Italy-based automation company. Fully able to replicate dynamic movements of the shoulder while enwrapping the body like a second skin, the MATE exoskeleton designed for workers to boost their strength and performance. This creates a 30% reduction in stress on the main shoulder muscles.
Some robotic exoskeletons make possible upper limb movements like reaching, grasping, or lifting an object, while some aid lower limb functions such as sitting down, standing up, walking, running, balancing, and standing in place. There are also some companies that develop full-body exoskeletons to fulfill a combination of these tasks. Many exoskeletons types are already using in corporations across the world, with many in the process to deploy.
To understand the abilities of exoskeletons, it is essential to consider their categories. Human performance augmentation exoskeleton is such exoskeletons category that has the ability to augment the strength, agility, and endurance of individuals. This kind of exoskeletons is often designed to help lift heavy objects for extended time periods while reducing additional strain to the user. The other type is assistive technology devices that are specifically designed for impaired people, with spinal cord injuries, muscle weakness, or other neurological disabilities.
So, as in one side robotic solutions or automation bane for some workers’ work, another side the introduction of exoskeletons boon for them as these are helping in performing more complex tasks. In the coming years, we believe, these kinds of exoskeletons support workers in their jobs and empower them to do more works.