Shoulder-Support Exoskeletons for Overhead Work: Current State, Challenges and Future Directions

Working overhead for long periods of time is a difficult task that often places a high workload on the shoulder and leads to injury. Occupational exoskeletons are an emerging technology that is gaining momentum in the construction and manufacturing industries, as they can reduce workload and improve work efficiency. The purpose of this article is to provide an up-to-date overview of the various exoskeletons that have been developed to support “overhead” tasks that require prolonged or repetitive lifting of the arms. The article presents the current state of development of these technologies, focusing on the different types of actuators, mechanical structures, and sensing/control strategies. We assess their feasibility and highlight challenges that are considered barriers to large-scale adoption of industrial exoskeletons. Based on these results, we identify and analyze the design criteria and considerations in manufacturing exoskeletons for overhead work that can contribute to the further development of exoskeletons for shoulder support.