By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff reporter
They won't enable you to lift a car or punch through a brick wall, at least not yet, but wearable exoskeleton robots are edging closer to becoming part of our daily realities, technology experts say.
These futuristic devices, which augment human capabilities and are utilized to increase strength, stamina and speed, have been the focus of research in the United States, Japan and European countries mainly for military and industrial purposes as well as for potential application in consumer products.
And it now appears that Korea is attempting to jump on the bandwagon, according to recent figures by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).
More numerous patent applications for robotic exoskeletons have been submitted over the past few years, KIPO officials said, as they garner increasing attention for their possible uses in daily life, such as in personal mobility units for the elderly and disabled.
Wearable robots are also expected to improve the capabilities of soldiers, emergency personnel and factory workers and provide them with better protection. The industrial type of these robots will allow workers better efficiency in lifting and moving heavy objects, while easing their toll from the simple, repetitive tasks on the assembly line or in other duties that require stressful body movement.
"The devices are predominantly focused on stretching the limits of human muscle power. It's not like the products of today are capable of saving the world like Iron Man, but they seem to be on course to develop technologies that could help old men stand straight again and help those with walking disabilities stride the roads," said Hong Soon-pyo, an official from the KIPO's reviewing bureau for machinery, metal and construction technologies.
"The patents applied for here are equally divided among foreign and Korean sources, although Japanese carmaker Honda leads with 22 applications, and we expect more frequent applications in the next few years as wearable robots move closer to reality."
Industrial estimates indicate the country's market for wearable robots will reach 32.2 billion won in 2013 and grow to 163.2 billion won ($141 million) by 2017, when the global market will be worth about $1.3 billion
A total of 77 patents related to wearable robot technologies have been issued in Korea through 2008, and although KIPO officials were unable to cite the number of patents since, Hong said there was a considerable amount of applications during the earlier half of 2009.
According to the KIPO database, there was just a single patent related to wearable robot technologies applied for in Korea from 1990 to 1994, but the number jumps to 62 between 2005 and 2008.
Aside from Honda, Korea's Hanyang University, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and P&S Mechanics appear to be the most actively involved in developing exoskeleton robots.
The majority of the patents issued here involve technologies for exoskeleton robots for either legs or arms, as full-body designs are rare among the prototypes at this point. The research efforts for power-assisted technologies and control mechanisms appear to be vibrant, KIPO said.
Robot technologies are also getting greater backing from corporate giants, which will likely lead to a jolt in the money invested in exoskeletons.
The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, the world's fourth largest carmaker, which recently identified "service" robots as a potential growth engine, and the company's technology center in Euiwang, Gyeonggi Province, was assigned to oversee the development efforts. Hyundai Rotem, the group's heavy industry unit, is dabbling with wearable robots for both industrial and personal use.
The advancements reported by a team of Hanyang University researchers led by Han Chang-soo have also garnered rapt attention. The team is developing HEXAR, short for Hanyang Exoskeletal Assistive Robot, intended as a versatile machine that could be used on soldiers, emergency rescue workers, construction workers and also for mobility challenged individuals.
HEXAR provides a combined system of an exoskeleton for both legs and arms, although they can be used separately to match the task at hand. The exoskeleton arm, which is operated by a movement sensor, is capable of freely lifting and moving objects of up to 40 kilograms.
"The development of wearable robots is motivated in part by the essential human desire to stretch the limits of physical power. It is important for the Korean industry to develop a diverse portfolio of the devices and benefit from the intellectual property regarding these core technologies," Han said.