Humanoids and the Future of Exoskeletons
Overview: The future of exoskeletons is intertwined with an increase in humanoid technology. The market for these technological advancements is expected to rise due to various factors like improving productivity and workplace safety while relieving the strain on workers' physical wellbeing. Specific sectors like the military, health, and industrial workplaces are already seeing a boom in usage, with some aiming to be fully robotic by 2025. It is also expected that the exoskeleton market will be worth $3.40 billion in 2025, up from $299.8 million in 2017.
Usage of Exoskeletons: Exoskeletons are becoming critical tools in various sectors, including military, health, and industrial applications. Military exoskeletons are designed to enhance human capabilities and protect soldiers from potential harm. The global military exoskeleton market is projected to reach USD 445.6 million by 2025. They provide soldiers with enhanced endurance and strength, reduce load carriage burdens, and protect them from injury, resulting in better battle management and improved survivability. On the other hand, medical exoskeletons are predominantly used in rehabilitation and assistive care, which presents a significant opportunity, considering the increasing global elderly population. In 2017, 962 million people were aged 60 or over. This volume is expected to double by 2050, reaching 2.1 billion.
Cost Efficiency and Productivity Improvements: One of the significant benefits of exoskeletons is that they foster a steady increase in production rates and quality. Evidence suggests that exoskeletons could increase workers' productivity by as much as 20%. Furthermore, exoskeletons can significantly reduce worker fatigue, stress, and work-related injuries, leading to decreased absenteeism and increased job satisfaction. Organizations are now embracing the use of exoskeletons due to the benefits they offer in improving labor quality and reducing operational costs, with a decrease in work-related injuries by up to 40% noticed after adopting exoskeletons in the workplace.
Advancements in Exoskeleton Technology: Technological advancements have made exoskeletons more functional, comfortable, and affordable, hence driving their adoption across different sectors. It is expected that the exoskeleton market will be worth $3.40 billion in 2025, up from $299.8 million in 2017. This progression is due to continuous research and development activities, which are now focusing on areas such as lightweight materials, advanced sensors, and control systems. The goal is to design systems that integrate seamlessly with the human body and enhance performance without causing discomfort or restricting movement.
Key Takeaways: - Exoskeleton usage has become prevalent due to advancements in humanoid technology and needs in the military, health, and industrial sectors. - The growth in exoskeleton technology has led to a boost in productivity, cost efficiency, and advancements in the technology itself, creating a large market value that is expected to continue growing. - Many sectors are trying to become fully robotic, offering new opportunities for technology and robotics companies like 3Laws Robotics.
3Laws Robotics:
3Laws Robotics is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of robotics technology. With safety and reliability at the forefront of its mission, 3Laws is developing innovative software to augment the performance and utility of robotics systems in manifold scenarios.
This revolutionary software, 3Laws Supervisor, aims to simplify the certification process, a significant challenge for robotics companies, offering robust safety features and proving system robustness, potentially making the certification path smoother.
Built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), a technology developed at Caltech, 3Laws claims to provide mathematically provable safety and efficiency with a 40% gain in the case of an autonomous forklift customer.
3Laws has several use cases, including warehouse automation, human-robot interaction, and operation in dynamic environments. By providing real-time guardrails for autonomy stacks, it allows robots to operate closer to their peak capabilities.
3Laws is adaptable, compatible with popular robotics middleware like ROS and ROS2, and works with a wide range of platforms, positioning itself as a next-generation safety solution that goes above and beyond merely responding to dangers – it predicts and proactively avoids them. This system meets certification standards for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262, demonstrating its high safety strength.