Here comes the Robo-Builder

Japan's Nagayo University has developed an exo-robot to help lift panels for ceilings. The Wearable Robot for Assisting Carpentry Workers [PDF] takes the strain from nailing ceiling panels in place.

The news item reports, "This particular task takes extreme brute force... not only great exertion of strength... inherently counter-human physiognomy... creating varying degrees of muscle fatigue in carpentry workers."

The four phases of this type of carpentry work require multiple over-the-head manual tasks:

1. Lifting up of the board
2. Setting the board with both hands in the proper plane
3. Support the board with one hand and fix the screws
4. Leave the board and fix the screws with one hand

The researchers found that steps 2 and 3 cause most fatigue in carpentry. [Raw Feed and Physorg]