Hyundai Motor Company and Kia's "X-ble Shoulder" Becomes First in Korea to Receive KS Certification

First Case of Wearable Robot Quality Recognized at the National Standard Level

The "X-ble Shoulder," a wearable robot designed to reduce musculoskeletal strain for workers in industrial settings, has become the first product in Korea to receive KS certification in the wearable robotics category.

At the KS certification award ceremony held at the Intops Gumi factory, the manufacturer of Xbl Shoulder, Kim Taewoo, General Manager of Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement, Geunha Kim, CEO of Intops, and Likun Choi, Executive Director of Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Robotics Lab, pose for a commemorative photo. Hyundai Motor Group

On March 9, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia announced that their industrial wearable robot, the "X-ble Shoulder," had obtained KS certification from the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement.

The KS certification is a national system that verifies whether products and services meet Korean Industrial Standards (KS). The certification process is conducted through organizations designated by the national certification body, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards.

In the field of robotics, the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement serves as the certification authority, operating the certification system to ensure the safety and reliability of advanced robotic products.

This certification marks the first case in the domestic robotics industry where the quality of wearable robots has been recognized at a national standard, officially acknowledging the "X-ble Shoulder" as a product that meets safety and quality requirements.

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have been continuously developing and commercializing the "X-ble" series, a lineup of human-centered robotic technologies. Among these, the "X-ble Shoulder" has been applied in various industrial sites across Korea, including major Hyundai Motor Group affiliates, Korean Air, and Korea Railroad Corporation. Last year, the company also expanded its business scope by signing a business agreement with the Rural Development Administration.

Additionally, the "X-ble Waist," a wearable device for back support, is being developed to reduce the burden on workers handling heavy objects. The "X-ble MEX," a wearable robot designed to assist walking for patients with lower limb paralysis, is undergoing research and development for use in rehabilitation and medical sectors.

The X-ble Shoulder is designed with a non-powered torque generation structure, making it lightweight and eliminating the need for charging, thereby ensuring convenient maintenance and management.

Furthermore, the product incorporates a muscle strength compensation module that provides assistive force, reducing shoulder joint load and anterior/lateral deltoid muscle activation in workers by up to 60% and 30%, respectively.

Lee Ri-gun, Executive Director of the Robotics Lab at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, stated, "With KS certification, the X-ble Shoulder is now leading the safety and quality standards for industrial wearable robots in Korea. We will continue to focus on developing products that enhance the practicality of robotics technology and contribute to global industrial sites."

Meanwhile, in February of last year, the X-ble Shoulder obtained the "ISO 13482" certification, which verifies safety, from DNV (Der Norske Veritas), an integrated certification body of the European Union. Subsequently, in May, it also acquired the "Machinery Directive Certification" from the European Union (EU).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.