5 Exoskeleton Manufacturers Looking to Change the Way Tradespeople Work

There’s no doubt that working on a construction site is hard work.  Between lifting and carrying heavy materials, to using tools in overhead and other awkward positions, the barrier of entry to this industry can be a daunting task.  By many accounts, this barrier is greatly contributing to the labor shortage.

In addition to adding to the incoming labor shortage, all of that lifting takes a major toll on a human’s body over the course of 30 years.  This wear and tear has not only knocked many workers out of the trades prematurely, it’s also contributed to many chronic injuries, like back and knee pain.

Now, you might say…”if someone needs this type of suit, they don’t belong in the industry,” because, believe it or not, there are people out there who want nothing more than for the people after them to suffer just as much as they did.  To that, I say: this industry isn’t a frat house and adults shouldn’t have to be hazed to fit in.

I’ve been following exoskeletons for a few years now and, in the fairly recent past, a few more players have emerged in the field.  If you aren’t familiar with exoskeletons, they are an externally worn mechanical device that allows the wearer to lift more without exerting more energy.  

Exoskeletons have been in development for years in the military and medical fields, but recent attention has been paid to the construction and automotive industries. There really are a ton of uses for these types of products, so I wanted to highlight 4 companies that are developing exoskeletons with construction in mind: Ekso Bionics, Fraco, Levitate Technologies, and RB3D.

Ekso Bionics

I’m admittedly the most familiar with the exoskeletons from Ekso Bionics, as they are one of the early developers for exoskeletons in not only the military and medical, but construction specific tasks, as well. A little over a year ago, the company released a lighter weight, upperbody vest that is made with overhead work tasks in mind.

The 9.5 pound EksoVest provides up to 15 pounds of lift assistance per arm without the need for external an external power source.  With its minimal weight and small size, it’s a very unobtrusive way to put less wear and tear on the body while also increasing productivity while overhead drilling and chipping, or running refrigeration and plumbing lines.

EksoVest retails for $6,995. Check out the video below to see it in action:

Fraco Exoskeleton

Perhaps the newest exoskeleton on the market is the recently unveiled Fraco Exoskeleton.  The new body suit was unveiled at this year’s World of Concrete in Las Vegas and is currently being targeted at the masonry field.

Allowing the worker to perform normal masonry tasks, free from obstruction, was important to Fraco in the design, so it does not restrict the mason’s ability to use a trowel and apply mortar. Unlike some other exoskeletons, this one can be used both passively and with lithium-ion battery assistance.

With no external power, the suit can lift up to 10.5 pounds with either an outstretched arm or bent elbow. With the quasi-passive joint locking mechanism, that lifting capacity increases to 15 pounds per outstretched arm and 26 pounds with a bent elbow.

Levitate Technologies

Last but not least is the AIRFRAME by Levitate Technologies – and it bears that name for a reason.  Weighing in at just over 5 pounds, the AIRFRAME is by far the most ergonomic exoskeleton on this list.  In addition, it’s likely the easiest one to take on and off.  It goes on just like a backpack with two snapping straps on the front.  After quickly activating the arm lifts by lifting them up, they’re locked in and you just need to put your arms in the holders.

The AIRFRAME is completely passive, so no external energy source is necessary.  It’s also completely personalized for each worker, so the fit and comfort matches their body type. Using the company’s patented system of pulleys, the AIRFRAME reduces exertion levels by up to 80%, but it’s not clear how much lift capacity that it provides.

The exoskeleton is compatible with safety harnesses and also available in a fire retardant version.  Price on these units is not publicly available.

For more information, check out their video below:

RB3D EXOPUSH

In a partnership between International paving contractor, Colas, and French Robotics company, RB3D, the EXOPUSH  is specifically designed to reduce the physical stress of raking asphalt, stone, or soil.  Driven by a battery powered actuator attached to an asphalt rake, the exoskeleton instantly activates when the tool is pushed or pulled.

The exoskeleton, itself, provides 110 pounds of thrust and weighs close to 19 pounds. As you’ll see in the video below, the EXOPUSH is comprised of an over the shoulder harness that straps across the chest, a leg strap at the thigh, a shoe attachment that allows a pole to mount from the shoe up to the thigh, and the actuator/rake combo.

Hilti Exoskeleton

The Hilti EXO-01 wearable exoskeleton provides relief for work performed at shoulder level and overhead by transferring weight from the arms of the wearer to their hips. The 4-pound device includes shoulder and waist straps, as well as forearm supports. The company states that internal and external research has shown that the exoskeleton can reduce the peak load on muscles and shoulders by up to 47 percent.

Like some other exoskeletons in the marketplace, the EXO-01 does not require external power to provide the support. The weight is transferred from the arms to the hips using a mechanical cable pulling technology. To develop the technology, Hilti has partnered with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider.

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