A wearable robot is a device that a person wears to assist, augment, or rehabilitate physical abilities. It includes everything from smart braces and posture correctors to equipment that moves mechanically, such as exoskeleton robots.
Ten years ago, the wearable robot market was in the early research and development stage and was largely limited to military and medical experiments. At the time, many said commercialization was unlikely due to technical constraints and high expense, but the market is now growing as the technology is used across various industries, including manufacturing and logistics.
FRT Robotics is currently targeting the industrial wearable market. The company was founded in March 2015 by CEO Jang Jae-ho, formerly of the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH). Jang said, "I began my research at the production technology institute and developed wearable robots with support for research and development (R&D)," adding, "I decided to start a business with the intention of returning technology that offers real help to workers back to society."
FRT Robotics has raised a cumulative total of about 8 billion won in investment to date. Revenue was 3.7 billion won 4th, and the company is aiming for 5 billion won this year and 10 billion won next year.
FRT Robotics' core product is StepUp, an industrial wearable robot that assists muscle strength. By correcting posture and supporting muscular strength, the product reduces muscle fatigue and injury risk for on-site workers.
StepUp is made in an exoskeleton form that attaches to the outside of the human body to support or assist human muscular strength, operating through collaboration between human and robot. The design reflects body-type data by size so it can be worn without discomfort and used effectively.
Jang said, "Industrial site workers are not allowed to handle items weighing more than 25 kilograms," adding, "StepUp helps with tasks such as moving 10–15 kilogram items, and when wearing StepUp, fatigue decreases when lifting the same item, and it helps prevent injuries to the lower back and other areas when moving improperly."
Jang emphasized, "We are steadily upgrading the product and enhancing quality." StepUp is currently supplied to and used not only by various public institutions, including the Korea Forest Service for tasks such as cutting trees during wildfire suppression, but also across industrial worksites at construction, heavy industry, food and beverage, and logistics corporations.
FRT Robotics will unveil Neo in Oct. Neo is a lightweight wearable robot aimed at older adults and female workers. Jang explained, "It is lighter than StepUp and has simplified functions so it can be used more comfortably," adding, "We are targeting older women, including agricultural and fisheries workers and care workers employed at nursing homes."
FRT Robotics is also moving to enter overseas markets this year, including the United States. Jang said, "We are preparing to establish a corporation in Silicon Valley in the United States," adding, "The U.S. is a larger wearable robot market than Korea, and we will target production sites facing worker shortages and the senior care market."
Jang said, "Ultimately, FRT Robotics aims to enter the humanoid robot market that replaces human labor." He added, "The intelligence that enables humanoids to work comes from human work intelligence," emphasizing, "We will grow into a 'global humanoid robot data solution company' that develops technology to let robots handle dangerous tasks in the future through workers' job data."