Wearable Exoskeleton Can Help Users Carry Heavy Items With Ease

Designed specifically for tasks that require heavy lifting, such as commerce or nursing

Researchers from the Tokyo University of Science in Japan are now developing a light exoskeleton concept that can carry items as heavy as 40 kilograms with little to no difficulty. Created by professor Hiroshi Kobayashi and his team of experts, the exoskeleton is affixed to the hips and shoulders by straps and a padded waistband, while its A-shaped frame is equipped with four pneumatic artificial muscles (lightweight rubber blades encased in mesh) that contract when pressurized air is pumped in and can exert up to 30 kilograms of instant support for extra strenuous tasks. The frame is specially designed to augment the functions of the arms and back specifically in tasks that require heavy lifting, such as commerce or nursing.