PhenEx exoskeleton make science fiction practical in Arizona workplaces
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Augspurger Komm Engineering, Phoenix Robotics Group and GoX Labs are looking to partner with local employers to help test new exoskeleton technology in an effort to provide tech solutions to address worker wellness challenges in the workplace.
Through the public-private collaborations with innovators at the WearTech Applied Research Center and researchers at Arizona State University, Augspurger Komm Engineering, Phoenix Robotics Group and GoX Labs have developed a new exoskeleton for the workforce with the goal of making workplaces safer for millions, according to a press release.
The wearable exoskeleton technology called PhenEx is actively helping workers squat and lift heavy loads promoting overall worker health and reducing the potential for workplace injuries, the release states.
“Through this partnership with industry leaders and innovators, we are able to bring cutting-edge technology that prioritizes safety into industries that need it the most,” said Kevin Hollander, senior engineering consultant of Augspurger Komm Engineering, in a prepared statement. “The exoskeleton and its technology protect the worker and enables companies to literally step into the future of workplace safety.”
Based on 15 years of advancing critical technology through the APEx project at Arizona State University, the wearable PhenEx exoskeleton leverages sensors to activate lifting springs that augment a worker’s strength and balance when performing physical activities for their jobs such as squatting and lifting.
The quasi-active exoskeleton unlocks its mechanism when the worker is at rest, walking or driving to avoid hindering natural motion. GoX Labs and AKE are testing the PhenEX exoskeleton with local employers like Dirck’s Moving & Logistics among other industry partners through the WearTech Center.
“The WearTech Center enables innovators by connecting entrepreneurs to research teams and industry leaders that accelerate the commercialization process guiding projects through idea generation, project formation and validation,” said Wes Gullett, operations director of Applied Research Centers. “We are proud to create a team that prioritizes the health and wellness of Arizonans through tech advancements while accelerating innovative and life-changing technologies.”
PhenEx exoskeleton make science fiction practical in Arizona workplaces
At the WearTech Center, the exoskeleton technology product development follows the applied research model, which accelerates the process via collaboration with public and private sectors partners.
The center shepherds these innovative products through the idea generation, project formation, validation, and commercialization phases, WearTech Center representatives say.
“There are 89 million workers exposed to injury at work every day across the country. As Arizona continues to grow as a hub for many different industries, the need for technology to address these risks increases,” said Dr. Joseph Hitt, CEO of GoX Labs. “Now that we have validated that our exoskeleton is a viable solution through our partnership with the WearTech Center, we are eager to work with local companies to test this technology and see how it can have an impact in real-life scenarios.”
Previously, the project team successfully developed a similar exoskeleton called the Aerial Porters Exoskeleton, or APEx that is being used by the U.S. Air Force. The use of the APEx exoskeleton is actively promoting worker wellness by making pushing and lifting easier and safer than ever.
The APEx Exoskeleton is designed to assist people in loading a 10,000-pound pallet and pushing it onto an airplane.
Arizona employers can get involved in the testing of PhenEx by contacting Duncan Treffers with GoX Labs at duncan.treffers@goxlabs.com
