Intelligent! LG launches wearable exoskeleton robot "future factory" production, logistics personnel gospel

The IFA 2018 exhibition will be held in Berlin from August 31 to September 5. One of LG’s product highlights this year is the LG CLOi SuitBot, a wearable robot equipped with an exoskeleton.

Its novel exoskeleton design can support the user's legs to increase the strength of their lower limbs, reduce physical exertion, and provide assistance to users who perform heavy physical labor for a long time.

(Source: LG)

This robot is different from other robots LG has announced in that it's actually a robotic exoskeleton you can wear rather than an actual robot. It features swivel joints and self-adjusting sandals to help users move in and out of the exoskeleton's skin more easily.

CLOi SuitBot is currently only designed for the lower body configuration, and is mainly fixed on the wearer's waist, hips, knees, ankles and soles to prevent the wearer from dangers such as foot slipping, lumbar muscle sprain, and sudden detachment.

It is designed for comfort and provides naturally enhanced functionality by intelligently recognizing the user's movements while walking, standing and working. At present, it is difficult for some other mechanical intelligences to accurately judge human movements, and the ability to achieve high coordination CLOi SuitBot undoubtedly has a major advantage.

Because it greatly improves the wearing experience of traditional wearable robots and is simple and flexible to operate, such a product is very suitable for providing help and support to those who lift heavy objects or operate heavy tools to avoid injuries to the waist, legs or spine. Injury caused by improper application of force.

CLOi SuitBot can also connect to LG's service robots to become part of a "smart work network" and interact with robots from other brands. They work together to exchange information and provide transportation in a factory or job site. These robots also have the ability to learn and analyze biometric and environmental data on the job to optimize power consumption.

Currently, CLOi SuitBot has been put into trial phase in some LG factories. It is worth noting that it is not prepared for the individual user market, but can be used in certain special industrial environments like Microsoft's Hololens and other devices to "provide assistance for future factories." The ultimate idea is to create a more efficient and safer intelligent production or warehousing logistics network, where all employees will be equipped with such exoskeletons.

CLOi SuitBot is more like an industrial machine and a "human-centered" auxiliary machine. Its purpose is not to replace humans, but to extend and enhance human skills.

Robots are becoming the entry point and important growth point of AI. According to data from market research organization BIS, the global market size of wearable robots is expected to grow to US$4.65 billion (approximately 31.69 billion yuan) by 2026.

(Source: BIS Research)

LG Electronics naturally hopes to seize the spotlight and get a piece of the pie. According to analysis, it is currently making a bold move into the field of robotics and has developed some products with special functions. These products do not follow the "usual path" of mainstream manufacturers, but are designed and manufactured according to the specific individual needs of users.

In terms of business establishment, LG also established a Robotics Research Institute and an Artificial Intelligence Research Institute directly under the jurisdiction of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in June last year.

The CLOi robot brand was first announced at CES this year, covering multiple functional products such as serving robots, shopping cart robots and cargo handling robots.

In the field of robotics, LG has been secretly working on it for many years, and its robot products are more like machines that serve humans. The wearable exoskeleton robot launched this time is one of the highlights, and it is a sincere work that LG has been brewing for a long time. It is expected to become one of LG’s solutions for future robot-assisted work applications.