Robot Glove May Help Reduce Injuries in Factories
Lifting heavy things and doing the same movement again and again can cause injuries, a problem common among factory and warehouse workers. But one company says it has the technology to help, and it's almost as simple as putting on a pair of gloves.
The product, developed by Swedish company Bioservo Technologies, is a glove called Ironhand. It's soft, like a normal glove, and only starts working when the user moves their hand.
Ironhand gives people extra grip and strength through motors that pull the fingers of the glove in, just like how a human hand moves. The company says that the glove can increase hand strength by 20%, and the user can also choose how much extra strength the glove provides.
Ironhand comes with a battery that the user wears, which can last for up to about eight hours.
Mikael Wester, Bioservo's marketing director, told CNN that when someone has the glove on, they don't have to work as hard to lift things, which reduces injuries. Wester also said that the Ironhand can be worn while using tools.
NASA first developed the technology used in the glove to help people hold things and perform tasks in space. In 2016, Bioservo started working with car company General Motors to make a glove for factory workers using the same technology.
In June 2021, Bioservo released a new glove, Ironhand 2.0, which it says has even better grip. Ironhand 2.0 also has an app that collects data to show if a user is at risk from injury when doing different tasks with the glove. They can then use this information to help them prevent injury.
