By now we’ve all seen videos of Boston Dynamics’ unnerving robots, whether styled to resemble a human or some four-legged animal. With the recent surge in interest in various types of robots, Hyundai’s purchase of the startup four years ago now seems more prescient, even if real-world applications remain modest for now. But humanoid and dog-like robots aren’t the only avenue of research the automaker has pursued. Hyundai has unveiled yet another robot-adjacent piece of tech that, until recently, could largely be encountered in a sci-fi film. Dubbed the X-ble Shoulder, the device acts like a human exoskeleton, increasing the amount of arm muscle strength a human can produce. Made out of carbon composite, the device can even help prevent workplace injuries by protecting the wearer from the outside. Worn like a vest, the device works via a multi-link structure in the muscle compensation module. At the moment it’s aimed at industrial work, which could permit the wearer to lift heavy items with greater ease. And not just in factory settings, but in anything from agriculture to construction to warehouse work, which has been the subject of much research in recent years.

Full report : Hyundai plans to start selling its wearable, robotic X-ble Shoulder device that acts as a human exoskeleton, helping to lift items, commercially.