On July 8, 2025, Korean Air held a ceremonial event at its aircraft maintenance hangar in Incheon to mark the delivery of the first "X-ble Shoulder." This device is a wearable industrial robot developed by Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation's Robotics LAB. Korean Air is the first official launch customer for this joint program.
The X-ble Shoulder will be used across various divisions of Korean Air's aerospace operations, including military aircraft, urban air mobility vehicles, drones, stealth aircraft, and satellite launch systems. The device provides "assistive force" through a muscle compensation module without needing a conventional electrical motor or charging. It is designed to reduce shoulder load by up to 60% and muscle strain by up to 30%, improving workplace safety and quality of life for workers.
The wearable robot has been tested since 2022 with feedback from over 300 testers. In February 2025, it received ISO 13482 certification for personal assistant robots and was approved for use in Europe in May under the EU Directive on machinery certification.