Comau Launches MATE-XT GO Exoskeleton for Worker Safety

Comau has announced the release of an effort-saving, biomechanical solution for manual handling tasks. MATE-XT GO is a passive exoskeleton designed to assist workers during lifting and handling tasks in industrial, agricultural, logistics, distribution, and construction environments. While the solution is ideal for larger workforces in large facilities, it is also suitable for smaller teams or singular use in medium- to small-sized businesses. In this article, we will provide details on the technology's features and benefits, along with an overview of how it works.

Workers at the Italian logistics company Temi Spa use the MATE-XT upper-limb exoskeleton to handle boxes more safely. Image used courtesy of Comau

Enhancing Worker Well-being

Enhancing the safety and well-being of workers, especially in settings where heavy-duty manual labor is required, is important for maintaining workspace satisfaction, health, productivity, and retaining skilled workers. In industrial settings and logistics and warehouse environments (for example), the manual handling of large automotive parts, carts, pallets, boxes, and other heavy items can cause strain and injury if not conducted properly. Human beings get tired and ill, and if it's simply a bad day at work, where fatigue sets in, a number of mistakes could lead to a serious injury associated with the previously mentioned heavy-duty tasks.

Employing automated robotic systems can augment, not outmode, human worker tasks, providing a tireless, precision-focused work colleague that can take on heavy-duty or high-risk tasks to ease the workload, free up valuable time, and improve workflow efficiency. But sometimes, the sensitive, dextrous human touch is still needed for more intricate handling tasks, and designing new ways of working has generated interesting technologies, one of which we will discuss here, and it looks like something you’d see in an epic sci-fi movie.

The MATE-XT GO features a lock/unlock mechanism that facilitates natural movement and supports manual tasks. Image used courtesy of Comau.

What is it, and How Does it Work?

The MATE-XT GO provides biomechanical support through alleviating pressure on the body’s musculoskeletal structure. The assistive device is made of non-toxic, non-allergenic materials and features adjustable elements to accommodate different body types. The physical human-robot interface (PHRI, or the components that attach to the human frame) consists of T-structure padding (from the spine to the shoulders), a waist belt, a lumbar pad, shoulder straps, base arm supports, an adjustable front buckle, and belt extensions. The MATE-AT GO is certified as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE – Category II) in accordance with EU Regulation 2016/425.

The materials of the MATE-XT GO are removable, hygienic, breathable, and washable. A kinematic design fosters natural movement, providing workers with freedom of movement and comfort while working. The T-structure of the back and shoulder padding is made of carbon fibre to distribute workloads and help support good posture while undertaking tasks. The lumbar belt enables weight transfer to the hips, easing pressure on the back and mitigating unwanted strain.

MATE-XT GO features a chain of passive degrees of freedom, which means that joints move freely within a kinematic chain, independent of the motor/actuator. This means the shoulder axis (for extending and flexing) is aligned with the MATE-XT GO's axis for improved freedom of movement.

As the arm moves, the mechanism stores and releases energy, adjusting to the shoulder's angle and its physiological position. Assistance is zero when the arm is in a neutral position and increases as the arm reaches a steeper angle.

Specific Application Areas

Overall, the MATE-XT GO provides 10% reduced task execution time, 50% reduction in effort, quick donning and doffing (30 secs on, 10 secs off), freedom of movement, reduced life-cycle costs, reduced strain, and improved ergonomics, according to Comau.

The MATE-XT GO may be applied to logistics operations (involving manual loading/unloading/collection), sealing and screwing with raised arms, cleaning and painting tasks with raised arms, and/or underbody tasks typical in automotive settings.