Hyundai donates medical wearable robot to support rehabilitation

Hyundai Motor Co. donated on Wednesday two medical wearable robots to Asan Medical Center in the south of Seoul for "gait rehabilitation robot therapy and research collaboration."

The robots donated by Hyundai Motor were developed by the Hyundai Motor Robotics Lab, called "X-ble MEX". It's a medical wearable robot that helps with lower limb muscle rehabilitation and joint movement for people who have difficulty walking.

The X-ble MEX supports five movements including walking, standing up, sitting down, going up and down stairs, and turning left and right. Hyundai explained that the robot can be adjusted in length to fit the wearer's body condition and is easy to wear even when sitting.

The robot obtained a Class 2 medical device license from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in January this year and has also completed battery certification.

The company has registered the trademark of its integrated wearable robot brand, X-ble, and is developing a lineup to utilize it in various fields such as medicine and manufacturing. The X-ble MEX, donated on this day, is the first product of the X-ble brand.

Last month, Hyundai signed a business agreement with Asan Medical Center and the Citizens' Alliance for Safe Life to support a gait rehabilitation program for patients with walking disabilities. The company will conduct related research for the next two years using Hyundai's medical wearable robots.

Hyundai signed on April 5 a memorandum of understanding with the National Rehabilitation Center. "We will continue to actively incorporate not only wearable robots but also future mobility and pursue activities to improve the mobility of people with disabilities," said a Hyundai official.

Write to Sung-Soo Bae at baebae@hankyung.com