Two workers at each of the company's Wayne and Flat Rock factories have been testing the exoskeletons since May.

The lightweight vest supports workers while they perform overhead tasks, providing lift assistance of up to 15 pounds (6.8 kg) per arm through a mechanical actuator that uses torque to take the stress off a worker's shoulders.

If you try one on, if feels like an empty backpack, but it enables you to hold a weight such as a heavy wrench straight out in front of you indefinitely and without strain.

Ekso began by developing exoskeletons for the military and medical fields, but branched out in manufacturing and construction in 2013.

Paul 'Woody' Collins, 51, a worker at Ford's Wayne plant, has been at the automaker for 23 years and has worn an EksoVest since May.

 

He attaches bolts and parts to the undersides of Ford Focus and C-Max models, raising his hands above his head around 1 million times a year.

Since wearing the vest, he has stopped having to put ice and heat on his neck three or four days a week and finds he has energy after work instead of feeling exhausted.

 

'My job entails working over my head, so when I get home my back, neck and shoulders usually hurt,' he said Paul Collins.

'Since I started using the vest, I'm not as sore, and I have more energy to play with my grandsons when I get home.'

Russ Angold, Ekso's chief technology officer, said the aim is to get workers used to the technology before moving eventually into 'powered' exoskeletons that 'will help with lift and carry' work.

 

 

Read more: Ford reveals 'Iron Man' exoskeletons used by workers | Daily Mail Online

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Technology breakthroughs are slowly going to put humans out of work.

In this case, the technology is assisting workers to do their jobs with less wear and tear on their bodies.

 

The Singularity is near.

There has to be a line in the sand somewhere. What good does it do for a factory to become fully automated, if that means that there are no longer enough workers and thus potential consumers that are able to purchased the products being made. In other words it does Ford no good to manufacture trucks if nobody is able to afford to purchase them because they are out of work due to the fact that a computer or robot took their job.

There has to be a line in the sand somewhere. What good does it do for a factory to become fully automated, if that means that there are no longer enough workers and thus potential consumers that are able to purchased the products being made. In other words it does Ford no good to manufacture trucks if nobody is able to afford to purchase them because they are out of work due to the fact that a computer or robot took their job.

 

Your comment completely misses this story. The story is about making the job easier for humans, not taking thier jobs. The UAW actually purchased these devices for the test.

Your comment completely misses this story. The story is about making the job easier for humans, not taking thier jobs. The UAW actually purchased these devices for the test.

 

No. I understood what I read. Perhaps I should have quoted post #2 as that it what my comment was geared towards, but TheGuru isn't wrong. Companies have shown that if they can figure out a way to produce products via automation that is the direction they will go.

 

It's happening locally in Owensboro. We have 4 McDonalds all of which have been getting remodeled or rebuilt in the recent months. The return of the McRib lured me into one of the completed units earlier this week. As there were about 137 cars in the drive-thru line, I opted to go inside. They now have 4 or 5 big screen touch screens in which you can place your own order. They had a manager stationed at the door to encourage you to use the new automated ordering system. They did have one human ran register open and this was at noon. Backed when I worked there decades ago, there would have been 4 or 5 people taking orders. Even though these are not good jobs they are still jobs. I'm sure the other locations will have the same automated ordering systems in place upon their reopening.

 

As far as the article itself, while these exoskeletons are not eliminating jobs, it could be another factor in the long standing trend of reducing jobs. I'd imagine these could allow workers to be more productive, take less breaks due to less fatigue, etc. As I have heard from management in my job a lot lately, we are going to just have to do more with less. I'd assume there are a lot of employers saying the same thing lately.

 

All of this is great for the companies bottom line, but unless we as a country figure out a way to replace jobs that are lost due to automation, greater effeciencies, or even complete loss to foriegn countries, something is going to give at some point.

Edited November 10, 20178 yr by Irish Cat