The MATE-XT device is a passive wearable exoskeleton, meaning it has no motors. It is a wearable garment designed to assist the user’s upper limbs.
Last October, Comau Spa launched the MATE-XT 4.0 Exoskeleton, the world’s first carbon fiber exoskeleton with an ergonomic screening system (EAWS) that does not require motors or batteries.
This innovative product promises to revolutionize manual tasks in the workplace, with a 30% reduction in muscular effort.
MATE-XT, now in its 4.0 version, is the result of Research and Development collaboration between AZeta Solutions srl, a company with over 30 years of experience in industrial automation, and Comau Spa, an Italian company part of the Stellantis group, specializing in robotics with a focus on anthropomorphic and collaborative robots.
The MATE-XT Passive Wearable Exoskeleton
The MATE-XT device is a passive wearable exoskeleton, meaning it has no motors. It is a wearable garment designed to assist the upper limbs of the user in flexion-extension movements during lifting tasks, working in unison across three parts of the body: back, waist, and arm.
Once worn, the exoskeleton effectively prevents the operator from making incorrect movements, reducing biomechanical overload risks.
A real strength of MATE-XT is its interchangeability. The device can be easily swapped between operators and adjusted to fit the user’s physicality in less than 60 seconds.
Application Areas
In every company, regardless of the sector, there is at least one person who performs tasks with their body. Whether it’s moving a package in logistics, assembling a component in production, or using a tool during maintenance tasks, all these activities can be improved with the use of an exoskeleton.
Here are some typical applications of MATE-XT:
- Screwing with arms raised
- Sealing with arms raised
- Assembly tasks with arms raised
- Under-body operations in the automotive industry
- Cleaning tasks with arms raised
- Painting tasks with arms raised
- Logistics operations
- Manual loading/unloading tasks
- Manual collection tasks
Resistant to dust, water, and UV rays, the device is suitable for any job: use with bare hands, tool assistance, or moving loads of any weight.
Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Real Problem
National and European statistics on musculoskeletal disorders related to work activities clearly highlight the need for immediate effective countermeasures:
- The economic cost at the European level is 240 billion euros (2% of GDP)
- In 2008, 40% of reported occupational diseases were musculoskeletal disorders, while in 2020, the percentage rose to 70%, a significant increase.
- In 2020, INAIL reports for musculoskeletal diseases were over 30,000
AZeta Solutions and 4HSE: A Partnership Based on Innovation
When two companies that focus on innovation at the heart of their business models come together, a partnership is born.
“The world of Industrial Exoskeletons is shaping up in these years, and demand from companies is continuously growing. The training course for safety professionals (RSPP, HSE, etc.) currently does not include in-depth topics on exoskeletons, or even mentions them.
We were looking for a recognized partner who could help us communicate this information to the world of safety operators, and in 4HSE we found a company extremely responsive to technologies, up to date, and eager, along with us, to change the world of safety by improving the daily work of operators,” explains Elisa Stivan, Sales & Marketing Specialist at AZeta Solutions srl.
A common vision aimed at modernizing workplace safety, with the development of technological support for workers and HSE operators, is now in place.
Based on this, our teams are actively working to integrate MATE-XT with 4HSE, starting with adding exoskeleton management to the platform at the equipment and procedure level. We plan to achieve full interoperability between the device and the software in the coming months.