Hyundai and Kia's new robot provides "a shoulder to lean on"

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have officially launched their industrial wearable robot, the "X-ble Shoulder", in the Korean market.

The X-ble Shoulder is a wearable robotic device developed in-house by Hyundai Motor and Kia's Robotics Lab. It is designed to assist upper-arm strength and alleviate shoulder loads during repetitive overhead tasks - a common posture in aircraft maintenance. By reducing musculoskeletal loads, the device helps minimise the risk of injury and fatigue, thereby enhancing productivity. 

A standout feature of the X-ble Shoulder is its non-powered torque generation mechanism, which eliminates the need for batteries or charging. This keeps the unit lightweight and easy to maintain while ensuring uninterrupted operation. The robot incorporates a muscle compensation module that provides assistive torque, reducing shoulder joint loads by up to 60%, and anterior/lateral deltoid muscle activity by up to 30%.

Following the wearable robot's handover ceremony, which saw Korean Air receive the first unit, Hyundai Motor and Kia's Robotics Lab plans to begin broader distribution to pre-order customers, including Hyundai Motor Group affiliates and domestic manufacturers in Korea. Sales will be expanded to industries such as construction, shipbuilding, and agriculture. Hyundai Motor and Kia also aim to enter global markets starting in 2026.