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Robotics

LG helps warehouse workers with the bends

By Paul Ridden
December 27, 2018
LG helps warehouse workers with the bends
As LG inches closer to commercialization of its CLOi SuitBot, the latest design will be on show at CES 2019 in Las Vegas
As LG inches closer to commercialization of its CLOi SuitBot, the latest design will be on show at CES 2019 in Las Vegas
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The CLOi SuitBot no longer provides full leg support, but has a thigh strap for each leg
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The CLOi SuitBot no longer provides full leg support, but has a thigh strap for each leg
The CLOi SuitBot features a dual strap at the abdomen
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The CLOi SuitBot features a dual strap at the abdomen
The CLOi SuiBot is designed to help reduce fatigue and the risk of injury for workers involved in physically-demanding tasks such as lifting heavy objects
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The CLOi SuiBot is designed to help reduce fatigue and the risk of injury for workers involved in physically-demanding tasks such as lifting heavy objects
The CLOi SuitBot will automatically engage when the wearer bends at a 65-degree angle, and switch off when the user returns to an upright position
4/5
The CLOi SuitBot will automatically engage when the wearer bends at a 65-degree angle, and switch off when the user returns to an upright position
As LG inches closer to commercialization of its CLOi SuitBot, the latest design will be on show at CES 2019 in Las Vegas
5/5
As LG inches closer to commercialization of its CLOi SuitBot, the latest design will be on show at CES 2019 in Las Vegas
View gallery - 5 images

Consumer electronics giant LG will be taking a refreshed version of its CLOi SuitBot to CES 2019 next month, as it inches closer to commercial availability. Updated versions of the company's PorterBot, ServeBot and CartBot service robots will also be on show.

The CLOi SuitBot was unveiled last year at the IFA tech expo in Berlin. It's a lower body exoskeleton designed to help factory workers keep lifting and lowering heavy loads for longer, reducing fatigue and the risk of injury. At that time, users would need to strap themselves into a full leg and waist support unit before starting work. But LG has now refined the design.

The updated SuitBot still has the lower back support unit, but the chunky leg supports no longer go all the way down to the sandal-style shoes. This latest version features an adjustable dual strap mechanism at the abdomen and a one-piece support structure branching off to a thigh strap for each leg.

When a wearer bends at a 65-degree angle, the SuitBot automatically activates to enable 50-degree extension and 90-degree flexion of the waist. When the user returns to an upright position, the assistive system disengages. And operatives can make use of the SuitBot for 4 hours for every hour on charge.

The CLOi SuitBot will automatically engage when the wearer bends at a 65-degree angle, and switch off when the user returns to an upright position
The CLOi SuitBot will automatically engage when the wearer bends at a 65-degree angle, and switch off when the user returns to an upright position

LG's CLOi service robots have also been updated, being treated to improved connectivity and more advanced autonomous navigation. Artificial intelligence technology allows the PorterBot, ServeBot and CartBot to analyze the behavior and needs of customers and improve performance as they're used.

Customers can interact with the bots using a touch interface or with voice commands, and they can even have queries answered and have payments processed by the service bots.

There's still no word on when LG plans to roll out its fleet of CLOi bots, but visitors to CES 2019 in Las Vegas between January 8 and 12 can have a look for themselves. More details on all of the CLOi line will doubtless emerge at that time.

Source: LG

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RoboticsLGExoskeletonRobotCES 2019
2 comments
Paul Ridden
Paul Ridden
While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won't say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before hopping over to France for 10 years, where he started work for New Atlas in 2009. Now back in his native Blighty, he serves as Managing Editor in Europe.

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2 comments
f8lee
But isn't the rule to lift with one's knees? This seems to promote the far worse approach of bending the back to lift something heavy.
ljaques
f8lee, you're right. Ergo looks all wrong on that thing. It looks as if it would apply pressure to the lower abdomen and maybe under the lower ribs for lift. Perhaps a palm-sized pad up from the front straps up to the center of the sternum so it presses back on the ribs/chest to lift the torso, leveraging with the thighs. The angle the kid is holding that large package is off, too. Who's running this program, a nutritionist? ;) Somebody call a physical therapist to consult with LG, please.
Full body cargo bots like they had in the original Alien movie would be great. Size them from human height on up to 5x size for good measure. And make them fast, so they will sell. Start with assist mode and move on quickly up into superhuman. All we need is a Mr. Fusion or ark reactor power supply and we're off!