At 15 Ford plants distributed to collectors of cars exoskeletons

2018: Equipment of EksoVest of workers at 15 plants worldwide

Employees of Ford at 15 plants of the company in 7 countries of the world which should perform daily repeating operations over the head received the exoskeletons considerably reducing physical activity — EksoVest. In Ford Motor Company said it on August 10, 2018. By estimates of the company, some workers of its pipelines should execute similar manipulations about 4600 times for change.

Ford implemented the global program for equipment of workers of the pipeline exoskeletons

The repeating movements with loading can become the reason of fatigue or lead to an injury. The hi-tech EksoVest suit is designed to change it. In 2017 Ford started the pilot program for equipment of workers exoskeletons at the plants in Wayne and Flet Rock in the State of Michigan, the USA. Their tests, according to the company, proved that exoskeletons help to reduce risk of an injury at the workers performing certain operations. Responses of the first EksoVest operators in general helped to optimize technology before its implementation at the plants worldwide.

Because the exoskeleton raises and supports hands, it reduces physical exhaustion and risk of getting injured during operation

EksoVest suits people of 1.57-1.93 m in height and provides lifting force in 2.3-6.8 kg on each hand. According to statements of employees of Ford, the suit is comfortable — it easy (4.3 kg) and compact, does not constrain the movement. The exoskeleton has no batteries and cables: when the worker lifts hands to breast level, go the pneumatic springs raising and holding hands with the tool into action.

Working in EksoVest "ekzozhileta" in the course of twisting of screws and nuts

As of August 10, workers at all assembly plants Ford in North America and also in the Pacific Rim, South America and Europe already use EksoVests suits (at the plants in Valencia, Spain and Craiova, Romania).

In Russia at the plants of JV Ford Sollers in Yelabuga and Naberezhnye Chelny (release adapted for the Russian Ford Kuga, Ford Explorer, Ford Transit, Ford EcoSport and Ford Fiesta market) within the program for optimization of production by means of advanced technologies the system of completing of orders for the pipeline using 3D - points is implemented. Augmented rReality glasses allowed to release hands of operators of a warehouse and to reduce the probability of a human error due to the automatic tracking of order fulfillment and navigation hints specifying arrangement of parts. In more detail about the project here.

Ford acts as the partner of Ekso Bionics company in development of exoskeletons of EksoVest and participates in process of optimization of the device which helps the worker to raise hands and supports them when that performs different operations over the head. A common example is twisting of screws and nuts using the pneumatic or electric screw driver, standing under the car.

2017: Testing of exoskeletons of EksoVest at two plants in the USA

On November 9, 2017 the Ford company reported that at its enterprises EksoVest exoskeletons are tested. Developed for employees of assembly lines, they facilitate heavy lifting and reduce tension in hands at manipulations over annual. By estimates of Ford, workers of its pipelines should execute up to 4600 such transactions a day, or 1 million a year.

The employee of Ford in EksoVest exoskeleton

EksoVest is joint development of Ford and producer of exoskeletons Ekso Bionics which cooperated with the German carmaker BMW earlier. Because the exoskeleton raises and supports hands, it reduces physical exhaustion and risk of getting injured during operation.

EksoVest is put on an upper body, is suitable for people of 152-193 cm in height and allows to increase effort of each hand to 2.3-6.8 kg. Also it is noted that the exoskeleton has small weight and does not constrain movements that does it comfortable for the user.

Working together with Ford, we tested and improved EksoVest prototypes, having taken into account to the recommendation of employees of pipelines. As a result we created the wearable device which reduces load of the worker's body, reduces the probability of injuries and improves health that favorably affects both performance, and moral spirit of people — the co-founder of Ekso Bionics Russ Angold whose words are cited in the press release of Ford said.[1]

Within the pilot program EksoVest exoskeletons by November, 2017 are used at two plants of car maker in the USA, and further is going to implement them at other Ford enterprises, including in Europe and South America.

During operation I execute transactions over the head, and, having come home, often I feel back, neck and shoulders pain. Since I use EksoVest, not so severe pain, and I have forces now to play with grandsons after work — one of workers of Ford Paul Collins (Paul Collins) told about experience of application of an exoskeleton.