Lowe's is testing a robotic suit developed by Virginia Tech that makes it easier for workers to pick up items and assist customers.
The “exosuit” developed by Lowe’s and Virginia Tech is designed to help employees lift and move products without muscle fatigue.
(Courtesy Lowes Companies, Inc.)
Courtesy Lowes Companies, Inc.
The “exosuit” developed by Lowe’s and Virginia Tech is designed to help employees lift and move products without muscle fatigue.
(Courtesy Lowes Companies, Inc.)
Courtesy Lowes Companies, Inc.
The “exosuit” developed by Lowe’s and Virginia Tech is designed to help employees lift and move products without fatigue.
(Courtesy Lowes Companies, Inc.)
Courtesy Lowes Companies, Inc.
The “exosuit” developed by Lowe’s and Virginia Tech is designed to help employees lift and move products without fatigue.
(Courtesy Lowes Companies, Inc.)
Courtesy Lowes Companies, Inc.
The “exosuit” developed by Lowe’s and Virginia Tech is designed to help employees lift and move products without muscle fatigue.
(Courtesy Lowes Companies, Inc.)
WASHINGTON — It’s not exactly an Iron Man suit, but Virginia Tech has partnered with Lowe’s and developed an “exosuit” — a wearable suit with lift-assist technology — currently being tested by Lowe’s store employees at a Lowe’s location in Christiansburg, Virginia.
The lightweight exosuit helps employees lift and move products through the store with less effort and more efficiency.
The Virginia Tech College of Engineering’s Department of Mechanical Engineering worked with Lowe’s Innovation Labs on the prototype.
“Over the past couple of years, human assistive devices have become an area of interest,” said Alan Asbeck, assistant professor and robotics expert at Virginia Tech’s Mechanical Engineering Department.
“Our technology is different in that it includes soft and flexible elements, and our approach is unique in that we are putting our prototypes in a real-world environment for an extended period of time,” he said.
Four prototype suits are being used by the stocking team at the Lowe’s Christiansburg store.
Jeff Clabaugh has spent 20 years covering the Washington region's economy and financial markets for WTOP as part of a partnership with the Washington Business Journal, and officially joined the WTOP newsroom staff in January 2016.
