Hyundai & Kia Unveil X-ble Shoulder Robot for Safer Maintenance
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation launched their industrial wearable robot, the X-ble Shoulder, in Korea on 8 July, handing the inaugural unit to Korean Air at the airline’s aircraft maintenance hangar in Incheon. Korean Air will deploy the robotic exoskeleton across its aerospace division to streamline assembly and maintenance of commercial and military aircraft, urban air mobility craft, drones, stealth platforms and satellite launch systems.
“The X-ble Shoulder embodies the technological expertise and collaboration of our employees,” said Dong Jin Hyun, Vice President and Head of Robotics LAB at Hyundai Motor and Kia. “We aim to expand its application across various industries to help prevent injury and improve efficiency for workers.” “We anticipate that workers’ health and job satisfaction will be enhanced through the introduction of X-ble Shoulder,” said Hyunboh Jung, Managing Vice President and Head of Aerostructure Business Department at Korean Air. “We are actively reviewing further adoption to uphold the highest standards in both aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, safety, and quality.”
Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics LAB will now ship units to pre-order customers, including Hyundai Motor Group affiliates and other domestic manufacturers, before broadening sales to construction, shipbuilding and agriculture. The companies also plan to enter global markets in 2026.
Developed in-house, the battery-free X-ble Shoulder assists upper-arm strength. It relieves shoulder load during repetitive overhead tasks every day in aircraft maintenance, thereby boosting productivity and worker safety. Its non-powered torque-generation mechanism removes the need for charging, keeps the unit lightweight and guarantees uninterrupted operation. At the same time, a muscle-compensation module cuts shoulder-joint load by up to 60 per cent and anterior or lateral deltoid activity by up to 30 per cent.
In 2022, more than 300 on-site workers tested prototypes at Hyundai and Kia’s production sites worldwide, providing direct feedback that refined the robot’s ergonomics and technology. The wearable robot has since secured ISO 13482 certification for personal assistant robots from DNV and the EU Directive on machinery certification, confirming its safety for industrial use. Design judges have also recognised its merits, awarding it the Product – Industry prize at the 2025 iF Design Awards and a 2024 GOOD DESIGN® Award in the Robotics category.