Esko Bionics targets UK construction with exoskeleton
Esko Bionics is branching out into the UK with an array of exoskeleton products set to be available from March next year. Its Zero G balancing arm can help builders using heavy tools, and the Ekso Vest provides upper body strength and support to help carry and transport heavier items. A full body suit is also expected to be available at some stage, offering powerful support for workers, with reduced physical stress.

Construction workers could soon have a taste of a superhero's strength, thanks to a robotic vest that is designed to prevent injuries on building sites.

The futuristic device is a miniature version of an exoskeleton, like the one worn by Iron Man in the Marvel comic's movie franchise.

The power suit will allow workers to spend long days lifting materials and holding tools at awkward angles without the associated physical stresses.

It could revolutionise the trade according to its creators and prevent ageing bricklayers and others from keeling over on the job.

A full body version could also become available for the full Tony Stark experience.

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Construction workers could soon have a taste of a superhero's strength, thanks to a robotic vest that is designed to prevent injuries on building sites. Built by Ekso, the power suit will be one of a number of new technologies being introduced next year (heavy tool support pictured)

BIONIC WORKERS Construction workers could soon have a taste of a superhero's strength, thanks to a robotic vest that is designed to prevent injuries on building sites. The futuristic device is a miniature version of an exoskeleton, like the one worn by Tony Stark in Marvel's Iron-Man franchise. The power suit will allow workers to spend long days lifting materials and holding tools at awkward angles without the associated physical stresses. Esko Bionics, based in Richmond, California, is bringing a number of innovative products to the UK to help to tackle a number of challenges faced by the country's construction industry. The Zero G will help builders using heavy power tools and the Ekso Vest will take the strain of holding heavy items and working for prolonged periods with hand held tools. And by the end of 2019, a full body version could be available to allow builders to carry heavy loads around a site without the need for specialist vehicles. Advertisement !- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/ru/sciencetech/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 - ->

Esko Bionics, based in Richmond, California, is bringing a number of products to the UK to help to tackle some of the challenges faced by the country's construction industry.

From March 2018, the Zero G will help builders using heavy power tools, weighing up to 35lbs (16kg), making them weightless through a gravity balancing arm.

The Ekso Vest is a smaller, personal, version of this technology, which will take the strain of holding heavy items and working for prolonged periods with hand held tools.

And by the end of 2019 a full body version, similar to the Iron Man suit, could be available to allow builders to carry heavy loads around a site without the need for specialist vehicles.

The Ekso Vest is expected to cost around $5,000 (£3,800) and the full suit around £10,000 (£7,700).

The vest elevates and supports a worker's arms to assist them with tasks ranging from chest height to overhead.

It weighs 9.5lbs (4.3kg) and can support loads of between five and 15lbs (2.2 to 6.8kg) per arm.

It has already been tested out on hundreds of building sites in the US, with positive results.

The company claims workplaces experience fewer on-site injuries while tasks are completed faster and with higher quality results.

Around 30 per cent of bricklayers in the UK are over-50 and 700,000 are expected to retire over the next decade, according to reports in The Times

There are also fears that the impact of Brexit is likely to mean workers from eastern-Europe, relied on by the industry, will return to their home countries.

All of this could mean a massive shortage of builders in the coming years.

The new bionic tools being introduced by Esko could allow people who were traditionally unable to enter the trade to sign up.

Speaking to The Times Tom Mastaler, the company's senior vice-president for business development, said: 'Exoskeletons will allow staff to work for longer and more safely and help to solve a demographic crisis in the construction industry.

The vest (left) weighs 9.5lbs (4.3kg) and can support loads of between five and 15lbs (2.2 to 6.8kg) per arm. By the end of 2019 a full body version, similar to the Iron Man suit (right), could be available

'They'll also change forever the kind of body types that can work in heavy-duty construction.

'In future women will be able to do the jobs that men now do because of the support that exoskeletons can provide their bodies to handle great weights.

'Future generations will also look forward to not suffering the kind of damaging body problems today's constructions workers face.'

Exoskeletons, taken from the Greek word meaning 'outer skeleton', are inspired by the hardened shells of the insect world and involve a frame of hydraulics.

Ekso has previously hit the headlines for their work with both military and medical exoskeletons. Their Hulc exoskeleton for the lower body (pictured) is powered by a lithium-ion battery that works to redistribute the weight across the hips and legs.

Full body bionic suits developed by the firm have also enabled people who have been paralysed in accidents to regain the use of their legs (pictured)

EXOSKELTONS Exoskeletons, taken from the Greek word meaning 'outer skeleton', are inspired by the hardened shells of the insect world and involve a frame of hydraulics. These magnify the leg and arm movements of the wearer, allowing them to take more effortless strides and carry greater weights. Military exoskeletons trialled as far back as the 1960s, such as General Electric's Hardiman, were able to increase the magnitude by a factor of 25. This made lifting 25lb (11kg) loads as easy for the wearer as lifting 1lb (0.5kg). These projects were ultimately unsuccessful but exoskeletons are increasingly becoming a reality in many walks of life. Advertisement !- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/ru/sciencetech/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_2 - ->

These magnify the leg and arm movements of the wearer, allowing them to take more effortless strides and carry greater weights.

Military exoskeletons trialled as far back as the 1960s, such as General Electric's Hardiman, were able to increase the magnitude by a factor of 25.

This made lifting 25lb (11kg) loads as easy for the wearer as lifting 1lb (0.5kg).

The also had force feedback, similar to an XBox or PlayStation controller, so the operator could get an idea of the resistance that he or she was experiencing.

These projects were ultimately unsuccessful as the early exoskeletons reacted unpredictably, and sometimes violently, to anything less than gentle movements.

But they are increasingly becoming a reality in many walks of life.

Ekso has previously hit the headlines for their work with both military and medical exoskeletons.

Their Hulc exoskeleton for the lower body, developed with Lockheed Martin, is powered by a lithium-ion battery that works to redistribute the weight across the hips and legs.

This allows its operator to comfortably carry 200lbs (91kg) with less effort.

Full body bionic suits developed by the firm have also enabled people who have been paralysed in accidents to regain the use of their legs.