Lowe's Hardware Employees Testing Exoskeletons to Aid Lifting

AI Thread Summary
Lowe's is equipping employees with exoskeletons designed to reduce back strain during lifting tasks, developed in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The exoskeleton features carbon-fiber shafts that flex and store energy when bending, releasing it to assist with lifting. This innovative design aims to enhance worker safety and efficiency in physically demanding roles. The collaboration with engineering experts highlights a practical application of exoskeleton technology beyond research. Overall, this initiative represents a significant step in augmenting human capabilities in the workplace.
berkeman
Admin
Messages
69,099
Reaction score
23,986
Pretty neat. Lowe's is equiping some employees with these exoskeletons to help them lift in their jobs with less overall strain on their backs. Virginia Tech is working with Lowe's on the design and testing of the exoskeleton "uniforms". :smile:

http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/15/technology/lowes-exosuit/index.html?iid=ob_homepage_tech_pool
The suit also includes attached carbon-fiber shafts that run down a person's back and thighs. The shafts flex and store energy as a person bends over to pick something up. When the employee stands, the rods straighten and the energy releases, making the task easier. The process is similar to how a bow releases energy when an arrow is launched.

Lowe's developed the exoskeleton in partnership with Virginia Tech engineering professor Alan Asbeck. For years, engineers have tinkered with exoskeletons and exoskeletons as a way to augment human abilities with extra mechanical powers.

170511125849-lowes-exoskeleton-2-780x439.jpg
 
  • Like
Likes jedishrfu and anorlunda
Engineering news on Phys.org
Thats fascinating to me purely because this design looks practical. There have been many exoskeleton suits made, but this is the only one that I can visualize being used beyond a research level.
 

Thread 'Race car suspension Class'

Posted June 2024 - 15 years after starting this class. I have learned a whole lot. To get to the short course on making your stock car, late model, hobby stock E-mod handle, look at the index below. Read all posts on Roll Center, Jacking effect and Why does car drive straight to the wall when I gas it? Also read You really have two race cars. This will cover 90% of problems you have. Simply put, the car pushes going in and is loose coming out. You do not have enuff downforce on the right...
View full post »

Thread 'Cantilever help'

I'm trying to decide what size and type of galvanized steel I need for 2 cantilever extensions. The cantilever is 5 ft. The space between the two cantilever arms is a 17 ft Gap the center 7 ft of the 17 ft Gap we'll need to Bear approximately 17,000 lb spread evenly from the front of the cantilever to the back of the cantilever over 5 ft. I will put support beams across these cantilever arms to support the load evenly
View full post »
Thread 'What's the most likely cause for this carbon seal crack?'

Thread 'What's the most likely cause for this carbon seal crack?'

We have a molded carbon graphite seal that is used in an inline axial piston, variable displacement hydraulic pump. One of our customers reported that, when using the “A” parts in the past, they only needed to replace them due to normal wear. However, after switching to our parts, the replacement cycle seems to be much shorter due to “broken” or “cracked” failures. This issue was identified after hydraulic fluid leakage was observed. According to their records, the same problem has occurred...
View full post »

Similar threads

What if Gravity could be controlled?
Replies
1
Views
3K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top