Hyundai-Kia’s Wearable Robotic Makes Industrial Debut with Korean Air

Hyundai Motor and Kia have formally handed over their first wearable robotic system, the ‘X-ble Shoulder’, to Korean Air. The milestone was marked with a ceremony at Korean Air’s plane upkeep facility in Incheon, signaling the beginning of the robotic’s use in sensible, on-site operations.

The ‘X-ble Shoulder’ is designed to help higher physique motion and ease bodily pressure for employees dealing with overhead duties. By decreasing musculoskeletal stress, particularly in demanding upkeep environments, the exoskeleton goals to reinforce productiveness and security. Hyundai states that the system shall be utilized in plane upkeep, with future functions anticipated in car and launch system meeting.

Designed by the Robotics Lab at Hyundai Motor and Kia, the X-ble Shoulder is a wearable robotic system created to help employees concerned in frequent overhead duties. It’s particularly helpful in sectors like aviation, the place upkeep crews usually must look and work upwards for lengthy durations.

In contrast to powered exoskeletons, the X-ble Shoulder makes use of a passive torque technology mechanism. This makes it light-weight and eliminates the necessity for charging, permitting employees to make use of it with minimal upkeep. The exoskeleton features a muscle help system that reduces strain on the shoulder joints and cuts the activation of deltoid muscle groups by as much as 60% within the entrance and 30% on the edges, serving to to stop long-term accidents.

The wearable robotic meets international security requirements, having earned ISO 13482 certification from DNV, a revered European certification physique. It has additionally gained worldwide recognition for its design, successful the highest honor within the product class on the 2025 iF Design Awards. 

Korean Air is the primary official buyer to undertake the X-ble Shoulder, deploying it inside its Aerospace Enterprise Division. The airline plans to make the most of the robotic throughout a variety of operations, together with the upkeep of each industrial and army plane, in addition to newer applied sciences resembling unmanned aerial automobiles and house launch automobiles. The bodily demanding nature of those roles makes them perfect for exoskeleton help.

Hyundai and Kia started pilot testing the X-ble Shoulder in 2022 at numerous international manufacturing websites. Greater than 300 discipline employees offered suggestions through the trials, serving to engineers refine the design for sensible use in real-world industrial environments. This user-centered growth course of ensured that the ultimate product met the precise wants of employees.

Executives from each corporations emphasised the broader potential of the X-ble Shoulder. Hyundai’s Robotics Lab Govt Director, Hyun Dong-jin, highlighted its usefulness past automotive manufacturing, whereas Korean Air’s Aerospace Division Govt Director, Jung Hyun-bo, famous the exoskeleton’s skill to reinforce each employee well-being and operational high quality.

Following the preliminary deployment to Korean Air, Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to start full-scale deliveries of the X-ble Shoulder to different shoppers. These embrace subsidiaries throughout the Hyundai Motor Group and numerous South Korean manufacturing companies which have already signed provide agreements. This marks the start of a broader rollout geared toward bringing wearable robotics into extra industrial workplaces.

Trying forward, the businesses goal to introduce the exoskeleton throughout further sectors, resembling development, shipbuilding, and the agricultural industries, the place employees face comparable bodily challenges. Hyundai and Kia even have plans to increase internationally, with international gross sales of the X-ble Shoulder anticipated to start in 2026.

Picture credit: Hyundai