Hyundai channels its inner Iron Man with new wearable robot ‘X-ble Shoulder’ tech

Hyundai’s latest creation looks like something straight out of an Iron Man movie. Designed to boost strength and reduce injuries, Hyundai and Kia unveiled the new wearable robot tech for the first time. The first of a new series, “X-ble Shoulder,” is now available for consultation in Korea, with deliveries planned for the first half of 2025. For those in the US and Europe, don’t worry. Following its domestic launch, Hyundai plans to introduce its newest innovation overseas.

Hyundai and Kia stunned the crowd this week when they introduced the new creation for the first time at their “Wearable Robot Tech Day.”

The first of a new series of wearable robot technology, the so-called “X-ble Shoulder,” can increase worker efficiency while limiting injuries. Just by wearing it, Hyundai said it can reduce shoulder load by 60% and muscle activity by 30%.

When used for overhead work, like under the vehicle, the X-ble Shoulder can increase workers’ upper arm muscle strength while reducing strain on the musculoskeletal system.

“The X-ble Shoulder is a wearable robot that leverages the technical capabilities of the Robotics LAB and implements feedback from actual users,” Dong Jin Hyun,” head of Hyundai and Kia’s Robotics Lab, explained at the event.

It will be offered in two versions: basic and adjustable. The basic is designed for situations where more movement is involved, offering up to roughly 6.4 lbs (2.9 kg) of assistive force.

Built for repetitive tasks, the adjustable model enables you to set up an angle for maximum torque, providing up to about 8.1 lbs (3.7 kg) of assistance.

Hyundai and Kia introduce wearable robot tech

Hyundai said the new tech has a wide range of uses in auto, aviation, agriculture, construction, logistics, shipbuilding, and other industries.

Interested domestic companies can already inquire and receive a consultation through Hyundai and Kia’s Robotics Lab website. The Robotics Lab will first supply the new wearable robot shoulder to Hyundai and Kia’s production divisions.

In 2025, the new technology will be expanded to 27 Hyundai Motor Group affiliates and companies in other fields, such as constriction and shipbuilding. Deliveries are scheduled for the first half of 2025.

Hyundai plans to introduce the new wearable robot tech to overseas markets, including the US and Europe, in 2026. The company said the launch date will be based on domestic sales.

It will be the first of a new product lineup of wearable robots. The X-ble branding combines “X,” which symbolizes limitless potential, with “able,” suggesting anything is possible.

In addition to the X-ble Shoulder, Hyundai is developing the “X-ble Waist,” designed to help when lifting heavy loads. The Robotics Lab also aims to launch a medical wearable robot, “X-ble MEX,” to assist with walking rehabilitation.

According to Motor Intelligence, the Wearable Robots and Exoskeletons Market is expected to reach $10.25 billion by 2029, up from just $2.55 billion in 2024. Hyundai and Kia’s Robotics Lab looks to secure its spot as an industry leader.