Hyundai Motor, Kia wearable robot moves from factory floor to peach farm, cutting shoulder strain by 33%

Choi Hye-rang works at a peach farm wearing the Hyundai Motor and Kia wearable robot X-ble Shoulder. [Hyundai Motor Group]

The X-ble Shoulder, a wearable robot developed by Hyundai Motor and Kia, is expanding beyond automotive production lines into agriculture. The device has drawn attention as a work-assist tool for fruit farmers after research confirmed it reduces shoulder strain during tasks that require prolonged overhead arm movement.

Hyundai Motor and Kia on Monday published content on the Hyundai Motor Group website showing young farmer Choi Hye-rang wearing the X-ble Shoulder while working at a peach farm in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province.

Choi was the first recipient of a wearable robot distributed through the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation's startup farming support center. The center began providing wearable robots to young fruit farmers earlier this year to ease the physical demands of the work.

Peach cultivation requires most major tasks — flower thinning, fruit thinning, fruit bagging and harvesting — to be performed above shoulder height. The repetitive overhead motions place significant strain on the shoulders, neck and arms, driving growing demand among farmers for assistive equipment that can reduce fatigue and sustain productivity.

In the video, Choi demonstrates the device while working in the orchard and shares her impressions of using it. The X-ble Shoulder operates without an external power source. Including the vest, the unit weighs 1.9 kg and provides shoulder assistance only when the user raises their arms into positions that require force.

"I liked that the vest comes in various sizes, so even women with smaller frames can get a proper fit," Choi said. "You can tell it was designed with care so that it's easy, comfortable and safe to use."

"It only applies force when you lift your arm," she added. "I wear it the whole time I'm working, and sometimes I forget I have it on."

Research findings back up the device's effectiveness. A study led by the Rural Development Administration found that using the X-ble Shoulder across five crop types — including peaches, grapes and apples — where overhead work is common reduced shoulder muscle use by an average of 33 percent. Most of the farmers who participated said they felt a noticeable reduction in fatigue.

Hyundai Motor and Kia's Robotics Lab, which developed the product, focused on fit and natural range of motion. Because wearable robots must be worn for extended periods, minimizing discomfort in real working conditions is essential to sustained use.

"No matter how capable a device is, if it's uncomfortable to put on or restricts movement, workers won't keep using it on the job," said Kim Gyu-jeong, a team leader at the Hyundai Motor and Kia Robotics Lab who led development of the X-ble Shoulder. "We concentrated on achieving natural movement so users can move freely and comfortably while still getting the shoulder support they need."

A Robotics Lab researcher wearing the X-ble Shoulder robot, which assists upper-arm strength, raises their arms to fasten a component to the underside of a model vehicle. [Hyundai Motor Group]

Hyundai Motor and Kia also accounted for the fact that the angle and force required to raise the arm vary by task. The X-ble Shoulder was developed with an adjustable peak-torque point, and the company offers pre-deployment consulting to analyze workers' postures and configure the device to suit each specific environment.

"We don't just supply the product — we provide initial consulting so it can be used effectively in the field," said Park Se-heon, a senior researcher at the Hyundai Motor and Kia Robotics Lab. "We're getting a lot of inquiries from a wide range of industries, not just manufacturing but agriculture as well."

Hyundai Motor and Kia have been deploying wearable robots at their production facilities in earnest since last year. The companies plan to extend the technology beyond manufacturing to other industries — including agriculture — where repetitive tasks and musculoskeletal strain are significant concerns.

kwater@heraldcorp.com