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Robotic Suit Gives Shipyard Workers Super Strength

Posted by samzenpus on from the power-up dept.

An anonymous reader writes Ship-builders Daewoo have been testing robotic exoskeletons in South Korean shipyards that provide the wearer with super-human strength. From the article: "The exoskeleton fits anyone between 160 and 185 centimetres tall. Workers do not feel the weight of its 28-kilogram frame of carbon, aluminium alloy and steel, as the suit supports itself and is engineered to follow the wearer's movements. With a 3-hour battery life, the exoskeleton allows users to walk at a normal pace and, in its prototype form, it can lift objects with a mass of up to 30 kilograms."

77 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. How do you say... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..."Get away from her, you bitch" in Korean?

    1. Re:How do you say... by mythosaz · · Score: 3, Funny

      geunyeo hanteseo tteol-eojyeo, dangsin-eun nappeun!

      I'm only posting this so that someone corrects me.

    2. Re:How do you say... by Spy+Handler · · Score: 5, Informative

      "geunyeo hanteseo tteol-eojyeo" - "Get away from her" --> This is correct.

      "dangsin-eun nappeun!" - this is wrong, it means "You are a bad person" and it's in the polite form even.

      "Geh sek ki ya" would be more appropriate, it's a commonly used expletive meaning "dog offspring".

    3. Re:How do you say... by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      I thought you were supposed to gain super-strength by using your arms for this? But be careful to switch arms from time to time, or your strength will be unbalanced.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    4. Re:How do you say... by Shortguy881 · · Score: 1

      You laugh, but those suits were sold to a shipyard after the movie. They were used just as these are. That was in the 1980s. This is old news.

      --
      Brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.
    5. Re:How do you say... by jgtg32a · · Score: 2

      Does that literal translation to actually carry the same weight as the as the English word?

    6. Re:How do you say... by Bugamn · · Score: 1

      I think it wasn't a literal translation, since the original was "you bitch" and the translation means "dog offspring", although this can be literally translated to son of a bitch, then the question is if this has the same weight. Also, he said "commonly used expletive", so I believe he knows what he talks about.

  2. Only geeks... by funwithBSD · · Score: 5, Insightful

    would consider lifting 30Kg to be superhuman.

    --
    Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
    1. Re:Only geeks... by MozeeToby · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Now go out and lift it once per minute for 3 hours and see how you feel.

    2. Re: Only geeks... by oic0 · · Score: 1

      Average weight of a south Korean male is 70kg, so almost 43% of their body weight. I agree though, wimpy. I can't imagine bothering to put it on. Even if it's additive to your current strength, it would be a waste of time. If you are constantly moving stuff that heavy you could do it faster with a forklift. If you are constantly moving lighter stuff you can do it faster without the suit.

    3. Re:Only geeks... by OzPeter · · Score: 3, Insightful

      would consider lifting 30Kg to be superhuman.

      And from TFA the target is 100kg Try lifting *that* more than a few times and see how you go.

      I feel sorry for you that the amazing super-strength exoskeleton capable of lifting 1000 kg, and able to run all day didn't just spring into existence at the snap of your fingers. It really must be tough living in that fantasy world where research and development don't take time and resources.

      --
      I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
    4. Re: Only geeks... by Jeremi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Prototype, people, it's a prototype.

      I'm all for alien-crushing super-robot strength too, just not while the software is still in beta :^)

      --


      I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
    5. Re: Only geeks... by mythosaz · · Score: 1

      It ignores the option of, "constantly moving stuff of exactly that weight" for which the suit seems fairly useful.

      Also, it's a prototype.

    6. Re:Only geeks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You get to sweating a bit, and I doubt it's good for your back in the long run, but its certainly doable

      (I used to work in a freight terminal - we would load 2 or 3 trucks with 20-30 Kg packages over a 2 hour period.. and none of us were 'buff' by any stretch of the imagination).

    7. Re:Only geeks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I used to work in a freight terminal - we would load 2 or 3 trucks with 20-30 Kg packages over a 2 hour period.. and none of us were 'buff' by any stretch of the imagination

      That's great! With this thing, however, you reduce staff loads. One trained worker could do an 8 hour shift, without stress and with (possibly) lower risk of injury, just by switching out batteries every few hour. Beats having to properly train four men to do the work and losing workers to strain injuries. If this is cost effective, who knows. Also, this is the prototype. I would assume they are interested in higher powered systems for the production system.

      So what I'm curious to see is how people handle moving with heavy weights, without feeling the heavy weights. Spinning around could be potentially dangerous, and dropping items could be devastating if someone were to forget the true weight of the item they held.

    8. Re:Only geeks... by Anubis+IV · · Score: 2

      So, move 180 65lbs bags from point A to point B in 3 hours? That's not too hard, even for those of us who are quite out of shape. Why, just last week, my boss, who is about as out of shape as I am (and is also a geek), mixed and poured the foundation for a shed in his backyard with only his elderly father-in-law to help. Because of the sloping terrain and city codes regarding minimum foundation thicknesses, it ended up taking 96 80lbs bags. My boss was a bit tired come Monday morning, but otherwise seemed to get by just fine.

      That said, he only had to do it for one day. I get where you're coming from, that if you were having to do it at length, it would be an issue. I just think you could have chosen a better time frame than 3 hours. Maybe "all day, everyday" instead, ya know?

    9. Re:Only geeks... by rogoshen1 · · Score: 1

      sheds.. have to live up to building codes, including a foundation? man. that's awful.

    10. Re:Only geeks... by Ichijo · · Score: 1

      once per minute for 3 hours

      [citation needed]

      --
      Any sufficiently unpopular but cohesive argument is indistinguishable from trolling.
    11. Re:Only geeks... by Aereus · · Score: 1

      How is that any different than swinging a load around with a crane? People will just have to be careful and realize the suits can be dangerous if misused.

    12. Re:Only geeks... by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      I think there's a different set of codes that apply to them than normal building codes, but yup, there were some codes applying to backyard sheds. Even when cities don't have codes in place, it's not uncommon for HOAs to put restrictions on their location, appearance, and construction.

    13. Re:Only geeks... by KingOfBLASH · · Score: 1

      Usually prototypes are a scaled down model. If I were a betting man, I'd say the final model will be more like 300kg...

    14. Re: Only geeks... by Livius · · Score: 2

      Oh, come on! Skynet got nuclear weapons when it was still in beta.

    15. Re:Only geeks... by jcoy42 · · Score: 2

      Because of the sloping terrain and city codes regarding minimum foundation thicknesses, it ended up taking 96 80lbs bags

      96 80lb bags would only cover 115 square feet at 6". And if it's a slope, it would have to be smaller than 10x10. Where do you live where they have building requirements for such a small shed? In AZ, you don't have to care at all until you go over 200 square feet.

      --
      Never trust an atom. They make up everything.
    16. Re:Only geeks... by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      He's in College Station, TX. I believe it was a 9x9, with it being 4" at its thinnest, 8" or so at its thickest, if I remember what he said correctly. It's possible he applied codes that weren't necessary, I suppose, since I admittedly haven't looked into the codes myself, and am merely repeating what I heard from him.

    17. Re:Only geeks... by Ted+Stoner · · Score: 1

      Could be used for Feats of Strength during Festivus.

    18. Re:Only geeks... by Quirkz · · Score: 1

      Ironically, the batteries weigh 40kg, and cannot be lifted by robots or humans.

      (I know, 40kg isn't actually unliftable by humans.)

      --
      The Quirkz Handbook of Self-Improvement for People Who Are Already Pretty Okay
    19. Re:Only geeks... by Khyber · · Score: 1

      Once per minute? Try twice per minute, working boxes of olive oil, for a twelve hour shift.

      I'm 180cm ~70 kilograms and can do it all day with lumbosacral arthritis, a rebuilt wrist, and half of my right leg replaced internally. What's your excuse?

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    20. Re:Only geeks... by LoRdTAW · · Score: 2

      Yup. I know that on Long Island in Suffolk counties town of Babylon anything with a footprint bigger than 10x10 feet is needs a concrete foundation. That concrete foundation is now a permanent structure which requires a permit and tax revaluation. So keep it small and you won't be bothered. That or live in NYC where most people don't give a damn and build whatever. Let the next homeowner worry who is probably a developer looking to knock it down and put in a 6 family with no parking anyway.

    21. Re:Only geeks... by Khyber · · Score: 1

      That's standard punishment in the Mississippi RID program. Please. and we did that with a piece of a fucking telephone pole. Five? Try thirty minutes.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    22. Re: Only geeks... by timeOday · · Score: 1

      Average weight of a south Korean male is 70kg, so almost 43% of their body weight.

      Instead of exoskeletons it might be easier to just increase the denominator. KFC anyone?

    23. Re:Only geeks... by rahvin112 · · Score: 2

      Are you kidding? The people that tie steel for a living are lifting more than 50lbs at a time for 8 hours a day 5 days a week. I'd bet better than 10% of our populations is constantly lifting and moving that kind of weight around pretty much continuously for their entire career.

      What are you, a basement dwelling virgin who can barely lift 10lbs?

      The only time 50 or even 100lbs should be a problem is if the shape is awkward (too long and wide, etc), the edges are sharp or the center of mass and shape make it awkward to hold (such as requiring that you hold the weight with your fingers rather than your arms). All but the sharp edges are usually neutralized by getting multiple people to move it. Now you start talking 100+ pounds in either dense or awkard shapes and this could be very helpful but 75lbs is nothing.

    24. Re:Only geeks... by swillden · · Score: 2

      I just think you could have chosen a better time frame than 3 hours.

      Well, after three hours the suit battery is dead.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    25. Re:Only geeks... by Anubis+IV · · Score: 1

      Oh, ha, yeah, missed that part. Good point.

    26. Re:Only geeks... by FatdogHaiku · · Score: 2

      So what I'm curious to see is how people handle moving with heavy weights, without feeling the heavy weights. Spinning around could be potentially dangerous, and dropping items could be devastating if someone were to forget the true weight of the item they held.

      Now let's all say it together...:
      We can work all that out in the software!
      Note to testing and QC departments:
      We will not be standing nearby while we work this out in software...

      --
      You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
    27. Re:Only geeks... by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      ...I would assume they are interested in higher powered systems for the production system....

      30 Kg is 66 lbs, yes? That isn't even workout range for most men under 50 who are in decent, not great, just decent shape
      So, say you, they will just get a higher capacity suit...which will weigh more, burn through batteries, spend more downtime on the joints or have much heavier joints.
      Lot of vaporware in business, LOTs
      and honestly, this sounds like vaporware with a mock-up.

    28. Re: Only geeks... by GNious · · Score: 1

      WTF - Even Korea gets to have a KFC?

      /me mumbles something about capital of Europe and lack of KFCs

    29. Re:Only geeks... by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 1

      You have obviously never done multi-drop deliveries.

      --
      Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
    30. Re:Only geeks... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Your comments could be applied to nearly every technological advance in history. If everyone saw something new and said "yeah, but it's not perfect" and gave up, where would we be?

      It's a trial. The good stuff is coming, it's not here yet. These little steps are required, and yeah, early adopters quite often get a raw deal, but they pave the way for the rest of us.

    31. Re:Only geeks... by vlad30 · · Score: 1

      Now go out and lift it once per minute for 3 hours and see how you feel.

      True however family business is construction a little experience here

      aside from OHS concerns where everything comes in maximum 20Kg packages (Australian OHS rules noticed some stuff from the US is 25Kg) 25 years ago most of these packages came in 40Kg particularly cement

      moving 20-40Kg at a time with a little practice and the right food you can do this all day and you won't like like a steroid taking gym junkie which BTW are useless at this kind of work

      What I can see this helping with if they do get it to lift 100Kg or this awkward/hazardous items where 20Kg even unbalanced can be very difficult to manage

      --
      Your'e all thinking it, I just said it for you
    32. Re:Only geeks... by gmhowell · · Score: 1

      You get to sweating a bit, and I doubt it's good for your back in the long run, but its certainly doable

      (I used to work in a freight terminal - we would load 2 or 3 trucks with 20-30 Kg packages over a 2 hour period.. and none of us were 'buff' by any stretch of the imagination).

      Yeah, but how were John Henry and the steam drill doing the next morning?

      --
      Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
    33. Re:Only geeks... by gmhowell · · Score: 1

      'shed' covers a lot of ground, linguistically.

      --
      Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
    34. Re:Only geeks... by Cyberdyne · · Score: 1

      How is that any different than swinging a load around with a crane? People will just have to be careful and realize the suits can be dangerous if misused.

      I think the dexterity is the key here. Yes, a crane can lift 10+ tonnes at the touch of a button/lever - once someone has attached the hook to the object. You can't just reach down and pick something up with a crane, except in very carefully controlled circumstances (like shipping containers lined up on a dockyard). Imagine a suit like this in rescue situations, though: lifting lots of chunks of rubble off trapped survivors, clearing blocked paths. A crane could lift the weight easily, but can't pick chunks of rubble up; a bulldozer or excavator could move it all, but would kill the people trapped underneath. Also, in those situations there is often a lot of dust etc around - and filter masks don't fit well with the physical exertion of lifting and moving heavy debris.

      Also, like the previous comment says, I imagine they'll scale up to heavier weights and other features in future (adding power tools, for example).

    35. Re:Only geeks... by EvilJoker · · Score: 2

      That really depends on how the weight's being lifted, i.e. what muscles are being used. Lifting with the knees? No problem. Outstretched arms? Difficult. Involving twisting? Risk of injury.

    36. Re:Only geeks... by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      At 66 lbs? seriously, the weight of a large printer should be an overhead push without noticeable strain, even for me, and I'm an old guy. I don't press heavy, but my regular workout is 130 for the military press. Again, the suit is not impressive as is and nothing spectacular there in the design hints at any breakthrough
      Call me when I can pick up a JT8D llow bypass turbofan engine in one hand.

    37. Re:Only geeks... by EvilJoker · · Score: 1

      That's only relevant if the object needs to be (or can be) lifted with that motion. If it needs to be lifted in a different way, it will involve different muscles. This motion is especially difficult for most people. Again, if a twist is needed, that is also going to be a problem.

      It should also be noted that OSHA's sister agency recommends no more than 35 lbs. This doesn't mean most people can't do it, but that it's far more likely to lead to injury, especially if done frequently..

    38. Re:Only geeks... by d34thm0nk3y · · Score: 1

      would consider lifting 30Kg to be superhuman.

      30 kg is 66 lbs. OSHA requires a second person to help (or to use mechanical assistance) for any weight over 50 lbs as it dramatically increases the risk of injury.

    39. Re:Only geeks... by d34thm0nk3y · · Score: 1

      You get to sweating a bit, and I doubt it's good for your back in the long run, but its certainly doable

      (I used to work in a freight terminal - we would load 2 or 3 trucks with 20-30 Kg packages over a 2 hour period.. and none of us were 'buff' by any stretch of the imagination).

      You are either lying or you were violating Federal workers safety regulations.

    40. Re:Only geeks... by JakeBurn · · Score: 1

      Whoever modded you up as Insightful has never done any real manual labor. I worked at Home Depot for a few years and had to fill in as a loader a few times. That's hundreds of bags of concrete on to carts for people every day,(or 10 skids, 42 bags per pallet in a six hour shift). That's 80lbs, (36-37 kg), over and over, all day long. And reading TFA really didn't give any kind of impression that they were being used as often as that. While the idea of the exoskeleton has been awesome since Ripley first jumped into one, we are years away from anything that will even come close to replacing your average construction worker for strength and ability. That prototype suit has trouble dealing with slopes of any kind, slippery surfaces or can't assist with turning. The key point there being that turning while carrying a heavy load is the quickest way to a bad back. Even at 20kg you're asking for trouble if you turn the wrong way or repeatedly. Add to that the fact that using this prototype suit actually keeps your core from getting use it seems like it will make those types of injuries even more common for the wearer. Until they fix that its a pipe dream for long term use. Sadly, at best, that article is a few years too soon.

  3. Lifts up to 30 kgs? by msauve · · Score: 1

    Woo hoo! I can do that. That makes me a superhuman!

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  4. Conversion time by wjcofkc · · Score: 1, Informative

    185 centimeters = ~6 feet
    28 kilogram = ~61 pounds
    30 kilograms = ~66 pounds

    66 pounds by itself is not a terrible lot to lug around, but if this suit lets you work with that kind of weight continuously for 3 hours, that's pretty significant.

    --
    Brought to you by Carl's Junior.
  5. Domo arigato by Ultra64 · · Score: 1

    Archer roboto

  6. Re:They should call it the Ant Man suit by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    maybe in North Korea where they will need this to get there army up to the basic level of some out of boot in the south army

  7. In Korea... by trailerparkcassanova · · Score: 1

    lifting 30 kilos is considered superhuman.

    1. Re:In Korea... by FuegoFuerte · · Score: 1

      Like I used to do racking servers in the datacenter, anywhere from 12-17 hours at a time. *yawn.* Yeah, it was tiring work, but it was by no means something that needed a robo-suit to accomplish. Call me when it can pick up fully populated 6509s all day long.

  8. Too busy picking on superhuman by hurfy · · Score: 1

    They also mention it still has problems with twisting, sounds like one has to twist themselves PLUS the suit. Seems to defeat the pick this up and put it over there aspect for a LOT of values of 'there'. Not to mention 'there' can't really be up or down a slope either.

    I agree on the the headlines. Save em for when they actually apply. I plan for my car to be really fast someday, but I can't write the world record headline quite yet...unless maybe I can be an editor at Slashdot too ;)

    It MIGHT give you superhuman strength SOMEDAY. Today it sounds closer to a nice back support. They seem to have found a use anyway, that's rather impressive, and not detailed of course.

  9. Sub-Human? by pubwvj · · Score: 1

    "With a 3-hour battery life, the exoskeleton allows users to walk at a normal pace and, in its prototype form, it can lift objects with a mass of up to 30 kilograms."

    Wow. Color me very unimpressed so far. My biological battery lasts 48 hours (extreme) and lets me lift about 120 Kg fully and regularly as well as a lot more occasionally. I can also run.

    Seriously though, while this is not "Super Strength" as the headline claims it is an interesting advancement. What we need next is a "Robot Suit that gives Editors Super Human Writing Powers" so they can actually write headlines.

  10. No SCV comments? by rogoshen1 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm disappointed in the Slashdot of today. All of these comments, and not one person making wise about Koreans playing Starcraft and deciding to develop their own SCV's.

    1. Re:No SCV comments? by Bite+The+Pillow · · Score: 1

      +5 for such a need to state the obvious? Pity the Dashslot of today.

    2. Re:No SCV comments? by ultranova · · Score: 1

      All of these comments, and not one person making wise about Koreans playing Starcraft and deciding to develop their own SCV's.

      People are too busy explaining how they can lift more than the robo-suit. Dunno when Slashdot became a high school.

      --

      Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

  11. Starship Troopers... by DavidHumus · · Score: 1

    ...coming soon?

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...

    Not according to the lack of imagination by the posters here I've seen so far.

  12. I look at the worker modeling the suit and I think by Kevoco · · Score: 1

    ... what a tool.

  13. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  14. 30 kg? Are you 66 lb kidding me? by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    Back when I was a combat field engineer we lifted transom beams with 6 guys that meant each of us lifted many multiples of that.

    Wake me when you actually are doing some real lifting.

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  15. Re:don't forget the rocket launchers by jones_supa · · Score: 1

    And the Gizmo Duck unicycle.

  16. Re:The grip by jcochran · · Score: 1

    Look at the article. And examine the photo in the article closely.
    The backpack portion of the exoskeleton has attachments. Including 2 "mini-cranes" going over the user's shoulder. And in the photo, those mini-cranes are linked via some rigging to the plate the worker is handling. So the majority of the weight of the object is handled by the exoskeleton while his hands are merely providing fine control.

  17. From the movie... by OhSoLaMeow · · Score: 1

    Dave

    --
    They can take my LifeAlert pendant when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
  18. Didn't they already have this thing... by cl3v3r · · Score: 1

    ...called a forklift?

    Yes, we use tools to move things that we can't - is an exoskeleton that has a 3 hour battery life really more effective than your plain old forklift?

  19. Look ma, no hands? by aNonnyMouseCowered · · Score: 2

    Take a good look at the photo that accompanies the linked article:

    http://www.newscientist.com/da...

    There's clearly no support for the hands. The thumbs of the worker modeling the exoskeleton are clearly visible above the presumably heavy metal object that's actually being lifted by a a crane-like contraption that loops over his shoulders. The worker is only using his hands to stabilize the object.

    Power suit this isn't. So no Ironman here yet.

  20. There's a LEGO set, too. by Areyoukiddingme · · Score: 2

    Ok, the LEGO set is independent of this prototype. But it's available this month. Here is the original proposal on Lego Ideas. Buy your own minifig exosuit! You know you want to.

  21. Superhuman? by TimOBrien8837 · · Score: 1

    30kilos superhuman? When I worked in a retailer warehouse back in the 80s I had to lift 125lb boxes of tools up 7ft shelves. Pfffftttt...

  22. Re:The grip by Cramer · · Score: 1

    Did you look at the picture? A magnet is what's holding the "heavy" plate. The worker's hands are merely guides; they aren't supporting the weight at all. (assuming it was balanced when it was lifted.)

  23. 30kg less? by Katatsumuri · · Score: 1

    If it subtracts up to 30kg of every weight you have to lift, I would say it is very useful. I don't think it limits your maximum weight, so all superhuman slashdotters here can continue to regularly lift their 120kg, or maybe 150 now.

    1. Re:30kg less? by pubwvj · · Score: 1

      For three hours.

  24. Up next, do it remotely by lamer01 · · Score: 1

    The workers wouldn't even need to be on the dock. Cheap labour overseas could command the exoskeleton remotely. And all this, while waiting for the rudimentary AI needed in order to allow the exoskeleton to perform those same tasks in an autonomous fashion.

  25. talk to me again when by ihtoit · · Score: 1

    I can use one of these suits to kick the snot out of the 12-foot cockroach I got hiding in the wheel well of my hawg.

    --
    Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
  26. Re:Seriously, 30Kg is superhuman nowdays? by ihtoit · · Score: 1

    moving 250kg?? That's not even superhuman, back in my younger days I'd often find myself pushing broken cars off the road - some of those weighed over 2,000kg.

    --
    Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
  27. Re:Seriously, 30Kg is superhuman nowdays? by ihtoit · · Score: 1

    OP says *moving* not *lifting*.

    --
    Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel