Wearable, robotic support has long been more than a vision of the future – it can now be found in everyday working life. Especially in logistics and production environments where physical stress is part and parcel of day-to-day business, the demand for solutions that provide targeted support for humans without restricting them is growing. “The IX BACK VOLTON was developed in response to the desire to offer our customers more: a motorized solution that meets their needs beyond that which is possible with a purely passive exoskeleton,” explains Pascal Schwedhelm, Head of Global SUITX Operations and R&D. “We wanted to develop a more intelligent device – optimized for dynamic activities, with minimum resistance when bending down and distinct support when straightening up.”
The result is an exoskeleton that actively relieves the spine and integrates seamlessly with natural movements of the body. With its slimline, ergonomic and optimally balanced design, the system fits discreetly against the body, providing all the support the wearer needs. With a total weight of just 5.7 kilograms including battery, the IX BACK VOLTON supports the wearer's back with up 17 kilograms per lifting operation.
At its core is an adaptive intelligence, which adjusts the support dynamically and in real time. The exoskeleton always delivers exactly the right amount of force required for the situation in hand – not more and not less. This ensures that the wearer feels supported rather than impeded, even in the case of highly dynamic tasks. This not only reduces fatigue and the risk of injury, but at the same time also increases efficiency and endurance in the work process.
Optimum support for every movement
Essentially, the IX BACK VOLTON supports the hips of the wearer with a specific torque. This torque makes it easier for the upper body to return to an upright position after a bending activity. The result: the back muscles are significantly relieved, the strain on the spine is reduced and therefore also the risk of overexertion and injuries in day-today work. As the exoskeleton is used directly on the human body, particularly high requirements apply. It must be comfortable, operate smoothly, function reliably and intuitively, and orient itself to the intended movement of the wearer at all times. At the same time, the system meets all relevant safety requirements.
In addition to reducing the risk of injury, the IX BACK VOLTON also makes a measurable contribution to increasing efficiency. A major factor is the frame construction on the wearer's back: It offers great freedom of movement and a high degree of wearing comfort. At the same time, this design allows parcels and loads to be carried close to the upper body – a key advantage when lifting, carrying and moving loads frequently. The exoskeleton is therefore ideal for fast-paced logistics environments with changing tasks, narrow time frames and a diverse workforce. The system adapts to the wearer – and not vice versa.
Precision and partnership are the key
Development of the IX BACK VOLTON is the result of interdisciplinary cooperation. The development team included experts from mechanical, electrical, software and biomechanical development. The clear objective: to create a motorized support that feels natural, is powerful and meets the demanding requirements of everyday industrial work. The engineering team from FAULHABER played a key role. A customer-specific motor solution was jointly developed which precisely combines those properties that are crucial for an exoskeleton: high performance, first-class manufacturing quality and the necessary scalability for subsequent serial deployment.
“We chose FAULHABER as a development partner because in our view there was no motor on the market that met our high demands,” explains Pascal Schwedhelm.
“With its expertise and well-known high quality standards, FAULHABER was our preferred partner right from the very beginning.” With a clear vision and profound understanding of the demands of the application, SUITX approached FAULHABER. In close cooperation, a drive solution was thus created that is not only technically impressive, but also integrates seamlessly with the overall system. The joint project demonstrates how cooperative development on an equal footing solves complex challenges – and how an idea can lead to a market-ready product.
A future with new possibilities
The continuous advances in drive and motor technology for exoskeletons open up new possibilities: Systems are becoming lighter, more reliable and of a greater quality than ever before. It is exactly this development that forms the basis for not only supporting the back, but in future also other specific body joints – and for utilizing exoskeletons in new industries and completely new markets. What today is primarily used in logistics and manufacturing environments or also in rehabilitation, will in the not-too-distant future establish itself further. Exoskeletons will increasingly support humans not only in physically demanding work or in convalescence, but also in daily life – wherever movement is to made easier, safety is to be ensured and the quality of life is to be improved.
Motors such as the FAULHABER BXI series form the technical basis for applications where high force and dynamics with low weight and minimum installation space are required – for example in exoskeletons or the robotic joints of humanoid robots.