Another man Mr. Byungwook Kim (25 years old at the time) was hit by careless driver in the road in 1998. As a consequence, his dream playing tennis in a national team simply disappeared.

Byungwook Kim, wear Work-on-suit in Cybathlon 2016 (Source: Professor Kong)

However, the miracle had happened to both of them due to the support of new advanced robotic technology called ‘wearable robot’. Now Mr. Kim is able to climb the stairs or even step the stones. Moreover, he won bronze Cybathlon 2016, the first Cyborg Olympic that competes robotic technologies for people with disabilities and Mr. Lee became the first person to deliver the torch in Pyeongchang Paralympic in 2018.

Wearable robots can be used in diverse sections such as protection in harsh condition (Source: Engineers Ireland)

Where we can find them?

In fact, wearable robot is already introduced in various fields. Wearable robot is applied not only for people with disabilities (paralysis of the whole body or partially) but also protection for employees from harsh conditions or life support purpose for the elders. For instance, the Korean steel manufacturing company, POSCO has applied wearable robot to manage the refractory in furnace which gave the advantage of increasing productivity by 12.6 billion won (worth as approximately 12.9 million US dollars). (Source: “Current level of Korean wearable technology?” (2016). Donga Ilbo).

The technology has brought a great improvement in terms of efficiency, enabling to save 54 days to finish the process consequently saving 12.1 billion won (worth 121 million US dollars) and the less human resources are requited that worth saving 8 hundred million won (worth 100 thousand US dollars). Furthermore, wearable robot is introduced into diverse fields such as supporting fireman or VR (virtual gaming).

SEE ALSO: Will Artificial Intelligence Lead to Breakthroughs in the Steel Industry?

Scene from ‘Iron man 3’. Wearable robot may come sooner than you anticipate (Source: theHollywoodreporter)

Is it realistic?

You can imagine the world famous move ‘Iron man (2008)’. In the movie, when Tony Stark (main character in the movie) simply calls the Iron man suit, it comes to his body automatically. As the series goes on, the technology of the suit also dramatically developed. Recently, news from the movie ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ stimulate the curiosity of new advanced technology of the Iron man suit.

Wearable robots may promise better quality of life (Source: ZDNet)

What makes that wearable robot get close to our real life rapidly? Significant improvement of wearable robot compartment such as electric motors, battery, processors can be the reason. But most of all, innovative development of material is the key factor.

Light weight, flexibility and endurance are the fundamental elements

Why materials?

Since the wearable robot is designed to fit in human body, the light weight of the structure is fundamental. Recommended materials for designing wearable robot need to be reinforced plastic or even lighter and have more flexibility.

High impact is another factor that wearable robot need to endure. The physical force of walking is the same amount of force that can bend 5mm X 10mm thickness of aluminum stick. Therefore, structure of the wearable robot should have adequate strength to protect the people who wear them. This is the reason why most of the wearable robots are made of alloy materials.

Therefore, the fundamental element for the success of wearable robot will be application of light and high impact materials into wearable robot’s structure. One of the good examples is “GIGA Steel” that has been recently invented by POSCO providing significant impression to robotic scientists by showing advanced quality on both hard impact and workability. GIGA steel is also recommendable for custom manufacture.

SEE ALSO: Auto Industry Finds Steel Solution for Lightweighting

Advanced robotic technology can lead elevation of quality of human life (Source: SG Robotics)

Pack of robots working in the factory is not just all about 4th industrial revolution. Wearable robot may play in a crucial role in improving human quality of life. With wearable robot’s help, walking disability might be considered as little discomfort in near future. Korea is one of the leading countries in wearable robotic fields and POSCO’s advanced technology may influence huge impact on the wearable robotic fields.

The U.S. is headed towards a major shortage of truck drivers. (Source: The New York Times)

However, the U.S. is short of about 30,000 to 35,000 drivers for every 750,000 trucks, and the number of driver shortages may reach up to 245,000 by 2022. That’s because right now, the average age of truck drivers in the U.S. is 55, and potential new recruits are choosing to sign up for construction or manufacturing jobs instead.

All this leads to climbing prices for freight transportation. Last December, at the peak of holiday deliveries, U.S. companies saw the highest monthly average rate for freight transportation since 2010. The high operation costs and lower profit margins are putting a heavy strain on industries. Heading into 2018, companies have to compete for carriers as there is just one truck available for every 12 loads.

As a result, Major automakers are heavily invested in autonomous electric freight trucks such as Tesla, Volvo and Daimler, and there are many proponents of an eco-friendly, safe and driverless future for freight transportation. However, autonomous freight trucks are not a realistic option for companies just yet. At a time of transition between the old and the new, there is a serious lack of capacity in freight transportation, and companies are left to deal with the higher costs for delivery.  

But good news right around the corner

Although the driver shortage is a major concern, it is a natural phenomenon in the transition towards a safer, more sustainable and more efficient freight transportation industry.

Uber’s autonomous freight trucks are in operation with a human safety driver on the highways of Arizona. (Source: Future Car)

Already, Uber has its autonomous trucks on the highways of Arizona. Every truck does have a human driver present to take over anytime, and the company uses transfer hubs to transfer goods between highways and local roads. Autonomous trucks are the safest and most efficient for use on highways, so human drivers transport goods from highways to the final destination. The company is working to operate without human backup drivers in the near future.

Waymo’s autonomous freight trucks have gone through almost a decade of testing and is now delivering supplies for Google in Atlanta. (Source: Wired)

Waymo is another company with autonomous trucks already in operation. Just this month, the company’s autonomous freight trucks started transferring equipment for Google data centers in Atlanta.

Embark was the first company to complete a successful coast to coast run with an autonomous truck. (Source: Micro Power Grids)

Embark also has its autonomous trucks in operation. Earlier this year, the company made a successful 2,400-mile trip from California to Florida with a human safety driver on board. The company has plans to commercialize its services in the coming years.

SEE ALSO: 6 Cities On the Road to a Driverless Future

Speeding up delivery

Numerous other automotive and tech companies besides those mentioned above are getting ready for autonomous freight transportation. The faster autonomous freight trucks are able to operate commercially, the faster industries can cut costs, improve delivery times and reduce their carbon footprint.

This means software technology, high-capacity batteries as well as the right automotive materials will play a crucial role in the future of the freight transportation industry, as well as in related industries. This transformation will open up new business opportunities for automakers, software companies as well as steel manufacturers like POSCO.

For autonomous truck manufacturers looking for ultra-lightweight yet super strong materials for optimal fuel efficiency, POSCO developed POSCO GIGA STEEL. The advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) material is 3 times stronger and 3.5 times cheaper than aluminum. Steel is also 100 percent recyclable and an electric vehicle made of AHSS requires 30 percent less energy than aluminum throughout its entire lifecycle. POSCO also developed a premium non-oriented electrical steel called Hyper NO for the most advanced and sustainable electric motors.

SEE ALSO: Why Electrical Steel Can Make All The Difference In EV Motors

POSCO also works with its auto partners to research and provide customized technology and materials solutions for their autonomous EVs. In the midst of a critical shortage of truck drivers, POSCO hopes to speed up autonomous EV adoption both for personal and commercial transportation and aid the transition into a more efficient and environmentally sustainable economy.

Cover photo courtesy of Time.

More drivers are making the switch from gas to electricity to fuel their cars. (Source: The Korea Bizwire)

SEE ALSO: Ask an Expert: Electric Vehicles and the Future of the Automotive Market

Why don’t more people drive EVs?

Electric vehicles (EVs) have a variety of benefits for drivers, the most obvious being cheaper electricity prices compared to gas. Not only that, EVs only have about a third of the parts of ICE vehicles, which results in maintenance-cost reductions by about 60 percent. There are also government subsidies that support EV manufacturers and consumers in numerous countries, and environmental regulations only look to strengthen. Despite all this, drivers have been slow to make the switch to EVs, and there are 3 critical reasons why.

1. Range

Today, EVs can travel about 200 to 400 miles on a single charge, and while this may be sufficient for most urban drivers, it’s still not enough coverage to relieve drivers of range anxiety. Low-capacity batteries are not the only problem – the weight of the car and the efficiency of the motor and converter also affect range. Put simply, even if a battery could hold more energy, it won’t result in increased range if the car is too heavy or the motor is inefficient and uses up too much energy. Automakers have to come up with comprehensive solutions to improve the battery capacity and motor efficiency as well as lightweight their vehicles.

Drivers are often wary of their EVs running out of juice where there are no charging stations. (Source: Sandman YouTube Channel)

2. Charging Time

EVs currently take up to several hours to fully charge, depending on the battery. Although there have been advancements in charging systems that allow for shorter charging times, the average charging duration cannot compete with the 3 to 5 minutes people spend at gas stations.

3. Charging Stations

Despite the technological leaps made in the development of EVs, charging infrastructure has not maintained the same pace. Gas stations outnumber charging stations in every country, and it will take time to figure out a model to commercialize charging stations and make the business more profitable.

Charging stations have not yet been commercialized as gas stations have. (Source: Coinfeeds)

Why EVs are still driving toward a bright future

Although there are still challenges to overcome, one of the greatest drivers of widespread EV adoption is national policy. A growing number of countries have declared they will limit or even ban ICE cars altogether by 2020. Policies are already in place to support a more environmentally sustainable auto industry, and companies are working hard to navigate and capitalize on the changing market environment.

This will bring about a wealth of new opportunities for related industries. That’s why automotive, materials, electronics and chemical companies around the world are investing heavily in technology to preempt this market, and first movers will gain a tremendous advantage.

POSCO is one of the companies looking to lead the global EV materials market and has been investing in and developing innovative solutions for EV manufacturers. POSCO has designed an ultra-lightweight yet strong chassis and developed the necessary parts to bring it to life. POSCO is also currently working with auto manufacturers, giving them access to POSCO’s EV chassis design expertise as well as its newly-developed materials.

POSCO has designed an ideal chassis for electric vehicles. (Source: News Tomato)

In addition, POSCO works closely with each of its affiliates including POSCO Daewoo, ICT, ESM and ComTech that are highly specialized in their respective fields. In cooperation with its affiliates, customers and academia, POSCO is in the process of developing innovative technologies for batteries, electric motors and charging infrastructure. As such, the EV sector has become a core business area for POSCO.  

Everything from the EV chassis and battery to the motor and charging infrastructure is codependent. Therefore, in order to develop an advanced EV that meets the needs of consumers, an integrated approach is vital. POSCO is in prime position to work with all of its affiliates under One POSCO and gear toward a future of cars running on electric motors.

Cover photo courtesy of The Wellingtonian.

The ever-growing demand for electric motors can be attributed to several factors including the growing interest in eco-friendly and fuel-efficient motors and improved living standards in a number of densely-populated countries around the world. Plus, new innovations in home appliances are not only driving the demand for electric motors, it’s changing the way they are shaped, sized and put together.

So, how exactly do electric motors work?

An electric motor is in pretty much every electronic appliance. The motor is what turns electricity into mechanical movement. When an electric motor is charged with electricity, the axle, or metal rod turns and creates movement. The motor itself is powered by two opposing magnets – the permanent magnet and the electromagnet. When electric current is applied to the electromagnet, it pushes against the permanent magnet creating rotary or linear movement.

The inside of an electric motor. (Source: Stiavelli)

Many parts of electric motors are made of electrical steel, including the motor core. Electrical steel is an alloy of iron and silicon and can generate various magnetic properties. High-quality electric steel such as POSCO’s Hyper NO will have a small hysteresis curve that minimizes energy loss. POSCO’s technology also reduces core loss by 5 percent as well as motor noise by 5dB.

Electric Motors in Home Appliances

Home appliances currently account for about a third of total energy consumption and attribute to 45 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in an average household. Energy-efficient home appliances are in high demand due to increasingly stricter environmental regulations, consumers’ desire to save on utility bills as well as their desire to lower noise output from appliances such as dishwashers and dryers.

In order to maximize energy efficiency, engineers and manufacturers turn to high quality non-oriented electrical steel such as POSCO’s Hyper NO to meet consumer needs.

SEE ALSO: Why Electrical Steel Can Make All The Difference In EV Motors

Next Generation of Home Appliances

Aside from traditional home appliances, there is a growing number of innovative, next-generation home appliances that rely on high-quality electric motors for maximum efficiency, cost effectiveness and also range of movement.

These days, robots are part of the average household in the form of vacuums, personal home assistants, alarm clocks and more. Unlike traditional home appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines that are stationary, innovative robot appliances move in different directions. This is where actuators come in. Actuators are electric motors in a gearbox, and the gearbox essentially gives electric motors added torque, or rotational force, that allows the robot to move in a variety of directions, including twisting and turning.

Actuators are what propels a variety of movement in robots. (Source: Motion Control Tips)

Moreover, engineers are now working with modular actuators to build robotic structures for a greater range of movement, speed and positions through segmented parts. Highly efficient, relatively low-cost and diverse actuators are coming together with AI sensors, voice recognition and smart controllers to breed a new generations of home appliances.

There are 3 different types of actuators based on how they are powered, and electrical actuators are most commonly found in home applications. Compared to the other types of actuators, electric actuators have lower speed and power, but are easy to install and control. Because they are often modular and can be applied for customized purposes, the resulting robots have a great range of motion to fit the new roles home robots are taking on.

Examples of Applications in the home

Here are some of the latest robots for the home that require advanced electric actuators and are changing the way people think of home appliances.

Aeolus Bot

The prototype for the Aeolus Bot was introduced at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The robot can move around the nooks and crannies of the home learning different objects and places with its smart software. It can also retrieve different objects and clean the house using other home appliances.

The Aeolus Bot responds to voice commands. (Source: Unbox Holics)

Not only that, Aeolus also has Amazon’s Alexa software, recognize its owner’s face and can alert family members of any disturbances.

Sony Aibo

Sony’s Aibo looks and moves like a dog. With its voice recognition software it can respond to commands, recognize faces and perform tricks. Although the furless bot may not be able to swim or jump the fence, it can pick up a objects, sit, roll over and move much more dynamically than other home robots.

The Sony Aibo can do simple tricks on command. (Source: The Verge)

The changing face (and shape) of home appliances is putting actuators to full use with their wide range of movement, speed and positions. Highly-efficient electric motors and actuators will continue to be in high demand as new innovations in home appliances and robots keep rolling out.

Cover photo courtesy of GE Reports.