{"id":489531,"date":"2026-01-03T13:43:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T13:43:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/489531\/"},"modified":"2026-01-03T13:43:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T13:43:21","slug":"uta-engineers-develop-soft-robotic-exoskeleton-to-reduce-workplace-injuries-dallas-innovates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/489531\/","title":{"rendered":"UTA Engineers Develop Soft\u00a0Robotic Exoskeleton to Reduce Workplace Injuries \u00bb Dallas Innovates"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Soft, air-powered exoskeleton eases muscle fatigue, reduces injuries and boosts workplace safety. [Photo: UTA]<\/p>\n

Musculoskeletal disorders account for nearly 30% of all workplace injuries in the U.S., costing an estimated $45 billion to $54 billion each year in medical recovery and workers\u2019 compensation, according to The University of Texas at Arlington.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Engineers at UTA are working on a potential way to reduce that toll. The research team has developed a soft robotic exoskeleton designed to support workers who spend hours lifting materials or performing repetitive upper-limb tasks.<\/p>\n

The device\u2014called the Pneumatically Actuated Soft Elbow Exoskeleton, or PASE\u2014uses a lightweight silicone pneumatic actuator to assist arm and elbow movement during common industrial activities such as lifting, assembly, and drilling. Its flexible, wearable design is intended to reduce muscle load in the upper arm and lower the risk of injury over time.<\/p>\n

Study results show reduced muscle activity<\/p>\n

In testing, the device showed measurable reductions in muscle strain during common industrial tasks.<\/p>\n

UTA researchers evaluated PASE in a study involving 19 participants between the ages of 18 and 45. Participants performed three typical workplace activities\u2014manual weightlifting, basic assembly, and power drilling\u2014with and without the exoskeleton\u2019s pneumatic assistance engaged.<\/p>\n

When the device was active, muscle activity in the biceps and triceps decreased by as much as 22% during lifting tasks, according to UTA. Participants also reported reductions of eight to 10 points in perceived physical and mental workload, as measured by NASA\u2019s Task Load Index.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven delaying or preventing a single workplace injury makes a huge impact,\u201d said Veysel Erel, who leads soft robotics research at the UTA Research Institute. He said the findings demonstrate how wearable robotics can help reduce fatigue, prevent strain, and improve safety in industrial environments.<\/p>\n

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Muthu Wijesundara (left), principal research scientist and division head of biomedical technologies at the UTA Research Institute, and Mahmudur Rahman, assistant professor of industrial, manufacturing, and systems engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington, are part of the interdisciplinary team behind a soft robotic exoskeleton designed to reduce muscle strain in industrial work.\u00a0 [Photos: UTA]<\/p>\n

A soft, air-powered approach designed for industry<\/p>\n

Unlike rigid exoskeletons, PASE relies on a single-piece pneumatic actuator made of silicone and mounted on a carbon-fiber onyx base plate, with a soft neoprene outer layer. The system is powered by compressed air\u2014equipment already common in many manufacturing facilities\u2014making it easier to deploy in real-world work environments, UTA said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal was to create a preventive, assistive device that reduces muscle strain before injuries occur,\u201d said Eshwara Prasad Sridhar, a graduate research assistant in UTA\u2019s Department of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering.<\/p>\n

By using pneumatic systems already available overhead in many factories, Sridhar said, the exoskeleton can be integrated without requiring major changes to existing infrastructure.<\/p>\n

The interdisciplinary project was funded by UTA\u2019s Interdisciplinary Research Program and led by Mahmudur Rahman, assistant professor of industrial, manufacturing, and systems engineering. The research team also included Muthu Wijesundara, principal research scientist and division head of biomedical technologies at the UTA Research Institute; Erel; and Sridhar.<\/p>\n

Published findings and next steps<\/p>\n

The study, \u201cDesign, Development, and Evaluation of a Pneumatically Actuated Soft Wearable Robotic Elbow Exoskeleton for Reducing Muscle Activity and Perceived Workload,\u201d was published in the Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering.<\/p>\n

Building on those results, the team has submitted a proposal to the National Science Foundation to expand the concept into a full upper-limb exoskeleton that could assist the elbow, wrist, and fingers simultaneously.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis type of interdisciplinary research is at the heart of UTA\u2019s mission,\u201d Erel said. \u201cBy combining expertise across robotics, mechanical engineering, and human factors, we\u2019re creating solutions that address real challenges in both industry and everyday life.\u201d<\/p>\n

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