Hyundai Motor Company Donates 10 X-ble Shoulder Wearable Robots to National Heritage Care Sites

[Financial News] Hyundai Motor Company is providing wearable robots to ease the burden on field workers who protect national heritage.
Hyundai Motor Company announced on the 9th that it donated 10 industrial wearable robots, the X-ble Shoulder, to the Korea Heritage Service on the 8th at an administrative welfare center in Paldal District, Suwon, and at Hwaryeongjeon Shrine, Suwon.
The donation ceremony was attended by Lee Gil-bae, director of the Heritage Policy Bureau at the Korea Heritage Service, Jeon Hyeon-cheol, head of Hyundai Motor Company’s Business Development & Sustainability Management Division, and other officials. The donation was made as part of a corporate social contribution initiative supporting the National Heritage Care Program organized by the Korea Heritage Service.
The National Heritage Care Program involves regional cultural heritage care centers and their workers regularly inspecting national heritage sites and promptly repairing minor damage to keep them in good condition.
The challenge lies in the nature of the work. Inspecting dancheong decorations and roofs of historic buildings often requires workers to raise their arms above their heads and hold them there for extended periods. As a result, calls have grown to reduce workers’ musculoskeletal strain and the risk of safety accidents.
Developed independently by Hyundai Motor Group Robotics LAB, the X-ble Shoulder is a battery-free shoulder-assist robot designed to address these challenges. It reduces shoulder-joint strain by up to 60% and can be worn continuously without battery charging. Automotive materials give it high strength while keeping its weight to approximately 1.9 kg, minimizing discomfort even during prolonged use.
The donated robots will be distributed among four regional cultural heritage care centers in Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, Northern Gyeongbuk, and Western Jeonnam-Gwangju. Field workers will wear them while carrying out national heritage management tasks. Hyundai Motor Company also plans to provide user training after distribution, continuously monitor the robots’ effectiveness and user satisfaction, and further improve the product.
A Hyundai Motor Company official said, "Since announcing Hyundai Continue, a global shared value creation (CSV) initiative focused on the environment, mobility, and future generations, in January 2022, we have continued related activities in Korea and abroad. We will continue providing support to ensure that our precious cultural heritage is passed on intact to future generations."
[email protected] Kim Dong-chan Reporter