Black technology exoskeleton saves 30 kg BMW IKEA trial

The Cray X is essentially a wearable tool. Powered by a hot-swappable 40-volt battery, it consists of a carbon fiber backpack-like device that connects to your body at the chest, hips and upper limbs. When an AI-powered device senses that you're trying to lift something, it adds momentum to that effort, allowing you to lift and carry with less effort. The latest fifth-generation Cray X has been learning, and it gets better when you use it more, anticipating movement and the extra strength needed, and learning how each worker moves, and how they may need more or less support.

The Cray X is waterproof and dustproof, so it can be used indoors and outdoors, as well as in dirty, dusty built environments. It can also be connected to IIoT platforms and smart factory applications for smooth integration with existing automation and intelligence.

The company says it takes 20 seconds to put it on once you get used to it, and it can take up to 1 minute if you're not used to it. The result of wearing the Cray X, Schmidt said, is that a warehouse worker can lift up to 10 to 15 tons of weight per day, which can be cut in half. In addition, workers who had to walk all day were helped. The significance of both goes far beyond the scope of work: health and wellness.

"One of our customers is actually an airport in Europe," Schmidt told me. "A [tester] actually told us ... Since he used the device, he was able to play with his daughter at night again. "

Another interesting thing from a worker's perspective is that Cray X provides detailed data about how much you lift and what you do, roughly similar to the data an athlete gets from a fitness tracker. Perhaps more importantly, if you lift something incorrectly, the suit will warn you, give better technical tips to avoid injury, identify symptoms of fatigue, and suggest rest when needed.

Schmidt sees powered exoskeletons as a key step in enabling workers to play a role in the emerging smart, connected factory.

"My core belief is that we should make humanity a part of society. I totally disagree with replacing them entirely," Schmidt said. "I quoted a quote from the founder of Acer who once told me that he didn't understand why we always wanted to replace humans. We've had enough. So I think we should really take advantage of intelligence and human life and really empower them. "

In the future, German Bionic sees an opportunity to power exoskeletons for more workers and laborers. Sick, injured or elderly people regain function, freedom, and quality of life by receiving assistance while walking or moving.

Schmidt believes that this will make exoskeletons visible everywhere. "I'm a firm believer in 5 to 10 years — maybe, I think it's already in 5 years, so you're going to look out the window, you're going to look at the street, you're going to see a lot of people with this kind of device for different use cases." So maybe the elderly population is just using it to help them walk. "

Founders and CEOs tend to be optimistic, and the cost of early technology tends to be high, so he may just be a little early in this regard.

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