New ETH Zurich study confirms benefits of Auxivo exoskeleton

February 24, 2023

Schwerzenbach/Zurich - A recent study carried out by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) has confirmed that the LiftSuit exoskeleton developed by Auxivo effectively eases the burden on employees performing lifting and forward leaning tasks. In so doing, it does not negatively impact the way in which the employees lift.

The wearable LiftSuit from Auxivo based in the canton of Zurich reduces back muscle activity during leaning and lifting without negatively changing the way in which the wearer performs lifting tasks. This has now been confirmed by ETH Zurich. As part of its study, the university subjected Auxivo’s textile, passive exoskeleton known as LiftSuit to a thorough evaluation. The results were recently published in the March issue of the “Journal of Biomechanics”.

In the 30 healthy volunteers, wearing the exoskeleton “significantly” reduced muscle activity in key back and hip muscles: by up to 25.59 percent when bending forward and by up to 20.52 percent when lifting. At the same time, no changes in the range of motion of the knees and hips were observed.

In summary, the study concludes that the LiftSuit exoskeleton relieved the back and hip muscles during typically straining occupational tasks, while biomechanical parameters were preserved. “This suggests that passive lift-support exoskeletons can be safely used to relieve workers during lifting and forward leaning tasks”, it states.

At present, a pilot project is taking place at the parcel delivery service DPD Switzerland, which is expected to run until October 2023. At the Hannover Messe, Auxivo will be showcasing its LiftSuit2 as well as the CarrySuit. The international industrial trade fair is set to take place April 17-21.

Auxivo was founded in 2019 and is a spin off from the Rehabilitation Engineering Lab at ETH Zurich. In the same year, Swissport won the Innovation Prize of the International Air Transport Association for its collaboration with Auxivo researchers on the development of the LiftSuit. The exoskeleton supports Swissport workers in sorting luggage. mm