At ConExpo this year, “Wearable Technology” was the subject of one of the show’s Tech Talks, and while most of this technology has yet to make it into the field, in the next two to three years wearable technology products may become regular features on the jobsite and a boon to safety and productivity.
The Myo Gesture Control Armband from Thalmic Labs can detect five distinct hand gestures and wirelessly control a number of different technologies. By reading the electrical activity in your muscles and the motion of your arm with a nine-axis motion sensor, it can enable you to direct the flight of a drone, change the slides on a PowerPoint presentation or manipulate figures in a video game. Using the Myo armband allows you to eliminate remote controls, touch pads, buttons and voice control while remaining hands free. Third party developers can configure the armband for a variety of applications. It’s available on Amazon for about $200.
Bending, lifting, twisting. When that’s all you do all day long, it can take a toll on the body. The big box retailer Lowes is experimenting with exoskeletons to help reduce strain on the muscles and joints of workers engaged in these activities. According to a report on CNN, Lowes collaborated with Virginia Tech to create a harness-like exoskeletons that use flexible carbon fiber reinforcements running down the back and thighs. The carbon fiber shafts flex and release energy, adding power to lifts and reducing the strain on muscles.
Last year, Hyundai announced an exoskeleton project that looks like something out of a science fiction flick—or a comic book.
In the announcement of its exoskeleton, Hyundai made several mentions of Marvel’s Armored Avenger, pointing to Iron Man as the company’s inspiration. The exoskeleton is designed for manufacturing and trades workers whose lives could be made much easier with a dash of super strength. Hyundai says the suit gives workers the ability to lift “hundreds of kilograms,” or as much as 600 pounds. And while the suit makes the wearer both stronger and safer while on the job, it only weights about 110 pounds, allowing quick movement over long distances.
