Wander around the Modex floor long enough and you'll come across some wearable robots. The category doesn't have anywhere near the presence of AMRs (autonomous mobile robots) or storage and retrieval systems, but exosuits are gaining acceptance for their ability to eliminate the repetitive stress that comes with lifting and moving heavy loads all day long.
While I have written about several of these companies over the years, my actual first-hand experience is limited. Naturally, I took the opportunity to take advantage brio movement's SafeLift Exosuit for a spin. The form factor is more like a backpack that houses the battery and electronics.
You put it on your shoulders and then adjust it with a pair of chest straps. Another pair of soft straps is then stretched around the thighs and secured with Velcro. It's a bit uncomfortable, although most use cases don't involve wearing the system over business casual attire in the middle of a crowded convention center (I assume). The system weighs 6.5 pounds total and is designed to fit users who are between 5'0″ and 6'6″. It's reasonably comfortable.
The Modex demo is simple. First you lift a large orange Pelican-style box that weighs 30 pounds. Then you do it again with maximum assistance. As someone who suffers from degenerative disc disease, I clearly deserve some kind of journalistic award for this morning's demonstration.
Image credits: brio movement
The thigh straps are connected to a pair of soft fabric cables that retract into the backpack with a small tug. This assist pull reduces stress on the arms. Similarly, the system offers resistance when you lean, slowing you down as you lower the payload.
Verve Motion sells the SafeLift as part of a larger system that features a wall of lockers/cubicles used to store and charge the exosuits. You can also charge the batteries separately and swap them throughout the day.
When we spoke to the Cambridge, Massachusetts startup last year about a $20 million raise, co-founder and CEO Ignacio Galiana told TechCrunch that Verve had sold more than 1,000 suits to date.
