Ottobock is a German prosthetics company founded in 1919 after World War 1. They are create bionic exoskeletons for everyday use. Their wearable technology protects workers in various industries: automotive, railway, aviation, shipyards, construction and logistics.
Workplace injuries have been a significant concern, leading to an economic loss of over $50 billion annually and causing employees in logistics to miss up to 32 days of work per year. To combat this issue, I recently visited Ottobock’s facility in Austin, Texas, where I had the opportunity to try out their Paexo Back and Shoulder exoskeletons. These passive, purely mechanical devices do not rely on external power sources, making them wearable, unobtrusive, and highly effective for protecting workers.
The Paexo Back
The Paexo Back is ingeniously designed, with two shoulder straps, a hip belt, a chest strap, and two thigh straps. Weighing just 4.5 kgs or 10 lbs, it can be custom fit in less than 20 seconds and provides individual adaptability to different sizes, from S to XL. Its biomechanical principle works wonders: when you bend over to lift an object, the load transfers from the shoulders to the thighs and legs through bars. An expander-spring stores energy during bending and releases it while lifting, giving a remarkable energy boost when straightening up. Besides providing support, it corrects posture and maintains a straight spine. The Paexo Back offers relief of up to 55 lbs/25 kg, protecting the lower back and spine, preventing muscle and disc injuries, and reducing stress and fatigue.
The Paexo Shoulder
The Paexo Shoulder, with its intuitive design, features two shoulder straps, one hip strap, a chest strap, and two arm supports. It effortlessly transfers a portion of the arm weight to the pelvis through a hip belt, using a passive spring actuator to generate support torque. The absence of rigid components allows free arm and upper body movement. Weighing only 1.9 kgs or 4 lbs, it can be adjusted to different body sizes and effectively relieves strain on the shoulder joints and upper arms. Ideal for overhead work, such as neurosurgical operations or assembly line tasks, the Paexo Shoulder significantly reduces the burden on the shoulder joints and upper arms.
In addition to these exoskeletons, Ottobock offers a range of other solutions. The Paexo Thumb protects the thumb’s tip from mechanical influences and comes in 7 different sizes. The Paexo Wrist bridges and safeguards wrists during various tasks. The Paexo Soft Back supports the lower spine during extended assembly tasks, while the Paexo Neck relieves the neck region and cervical spine.
Analysis
While some skeptics view these exoskeletons as potentially exploitative for assembly line workers or packagers, I believe their benefits outweigh the concerns. These exoskeletons can significantly reduce workplace injuries and insurance claims, improve productivity, and pave the way for a smoother transition to robotic automation. Though they are not as powerful as some battery-powered exoskeletons, the Paexo Back and Shoulder are affordable and lightweight options that can make a significant impact in various industries.
It is essential to acknowledge the psychological barrier that exists, as able-bodied individuals may perceive exoskeletons as impediments to natural movement. However, the potential benefits for workers’ health and well-being should not be overlooked. Despite some challenges in wider adoption, the construction industry has shown interest in embracing this groundbreaking technology, as seen in the partnership between Hilti and Ottobock on the Exo-01 shoulder support exoskeleton.
Conclusion
Overall, I am genuinely excited to witness more players in the construction industry adopting this technology. A special thanks to Samuel Reimer and Alex Safaya, who arranged my visit to Ottobock’s offices in Austin. I’m keen to hear your thoughts on the future of this product in the comments below. Your support on my Patreon page, linked in the description, is highly appreciated. Thanks to all those already supporting me. Don’t forget to hit the like button and subscribe to my channel. Thank you for watching, and see you soon.”
SOURCES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyMmqhT7lPk
