Bionic devices turn humans into superstrong workers
Bionic devices turn humans into superstrong workers
By CHEL LAYNE MONEYWATCH November 21, 2017, 5:15 AM
Iron Man suits might not yet be commonplace, but
companies from Ford to Lowe's are testing new mechanical exoskeletons to
enhance -- and extend -- human strength.
Earlier this month, Ford said it was testing four models
of exoskeletal arms to help ease fatigue for assembly line workers.
Hyundai last year announced it was working on a wearable
robot suit. And Germany's Audi began testing robotic assist technology for
production plants in 2015. Universities from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology to U.C. Berkeley are also developing technology, mostly inspired by
potential medical use.
"My job entails working over my head, so when I get
home my back, neck and shoulders usually hurt," said Paul Collins, an
assembly line worker at Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant, in a statement released
by Ford. "Since I started using the vest, I'm not as sore, and I have more
energy to play with my grandsons when I get home."
The potential for expansion into other industries like
construction or loading and unloading of goods is becoming more realistic as
scientists rethink older designs, Scientific American reported earlier this
year.
The global market for bionic devices may rise to $12.1
billion by 2026, up from $3.2 billion last year, when the US had almost 40
percent of the global market, according to report from BCC Research earlier
this year.
Ekso Bionics (EKSO) announced last week that it's
providing technology to Ford, a device called the EksoVest, and its stock has
climbed since then. That's even though it reported selling fewer units than
some analysts expected when it released third-quarter results earlier this
month.
Called EksoVest, the wearable technology elevates and
supports a worker's arms while performing overhead tasks. FORD
The fledgling company, which listed on the Nasdaq stock
exchange last year, has $33.44 million in cash, enough to fund operations for
more than a year, according to its quarterly filing with the US Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Bionic device use in factories, or anyplace a heavy lift
is eased by a machine, is an expansion of intense interest in and use of the
technology, especially for medical rehabilitation. Ekso's GT product, for
instance, is involved in 62 studies touching on 1,500 patents, according to the
SEC filing.
"We find Ekso's technology to be innovative and
believe the long-term opportunity for medical exoskeletons remains
compelling," wrote Bruce Nudell, an analyst at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.
Ekso is hardly the only company developing exoskeletal
products. Dozens of others are working on products for use in the medical
industry and beyond it. About three dozen others exist, including ReWalk
Robotics and the much larger Parker-Hannafin, are working on new products.
In October, Parker's Indego exoskeleton was approved for
expanded medical use. And Japan's Cyberdyne said last week it's seeking US
approval for its assisted-movement system.
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