Wearable Robot Eases Musculoskeletal Strain for Farmers

Wearable robots that can be put on like clothing are being introduced on farms, drawing attention as a solution to reduce musculoskeletal strain for farmers. Lee In-dong, a grape grower in a vineyard in North Gyeongsang Province, wears the vest-like robot while harvesting, thinning fruit, and pruning with his arms raised. "The robot supports my arms, so my shoulders feel especially less strained," he said.

The wearable robot is power-free, weighs just 1.9kg, and can be put on and taken off alone. Kim Jong-woo, team leader at Hyundai Motor and Kia's Robotics Lab, explained that multi-linkage technology uses spring force to assist arm strength only during strenuous movements.

"Rural communities are aging rapidly, and female farmers with less physical strength have no choice but to rely on robots," said Lee Seok-hyung, president of the Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency. Agricultural authorities plan to expand the distribution of wearable robots, but challenges remain: lowering the initial purchase cost and further developing the technology to support a wider range of movements.