Hyundai and Kia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) to expand the use of wearable robotics in farming.
The partnership will see the companies introduce their X-ble Shoulder robot, developed by Hyundai and Kia’s Robotics LAB, to agricultural sites across the country.
The X-ble Shoulder is designed to reduce strain on workers performing heavy shoulder tasks. Field tests carried out earlier this year with the RDA showed the device reduced deltoid muscle activation by about 22 percent, according to electromyography (EMG) sensor measurements.
The results point to its potential in alleviating physical stress and improving safety for farmers.
Hyundai and Kia said the collaboration aims to validate and optimize the robot for agriculture, while promoting awareness of its benefits among farmers. The RDA will support testing in the field, connect with industry partners, and distribute educational content to encourage adoption.
“Improving safety and efficiency in agricultural fields is a key task for the future of farming. By actively introducing advanced technology through our collaboration with Hyundai Motor and Kia, we aim to help farmers work more safely and healthily while fostering innovation in the agricultural sector,” the RDA says in a statement.
Since its launch in November 2024, the X-ble Shoulder has been deployed in industries such as manufacturing, shipbuilding, and construction. Clients already include Korean Air, Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), Hyundai Transys, and Hyundai Rotem.
With agriculture now added, Hyundai and Kia are positioning wearable robotics as a tool to improve both worker welfare and industrial efficiency across multiple sectors.
