Hyundai Motor and Kia Expand Use of Wearable Robot in Agriculture with Koreas Rural Development Administration

• Hyundai Motor and Kia sign an MoU with Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) to introduce the wearable robot X-ble Shoulder to agriculture
• Collaboration focuses on improving farmers’ health, safety, and operational efficiency through wearable robot
• Both parties will collaborate on testing, promoting and scaling the use of wearable robots in farming to advance sustainable agriculture

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation are collaborating with Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA) to revolutionize agricultural practices through wearable robot. The companies aim to deploy their wearable robot, the X-ble Shoulder, developed by Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics LAB, to farming sites across Korea.

On September 23, Hyundai Motor and Kia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the RDA at the Uiwang Research & Development (R&D) Center. This strategic partnership is designed to enhance farmers’ health and safety while improving operational efficiency in agricultural work.

“Hyundai Motor and Kia have long sought ways to support workers across diverse industries, and the X-ble Shoulder is the result of these efforts,” said Heui Won Yang, President and Head of Hyundai Motor and Kia’s R&D Division. “Through this collaboration, we hope the X-ble Shoulder will reduce the shoulder joint load for farmers and contribute to creating a more sustainable agricultural environment.”

Seung-don Lee, Head of the RDA, added, “Improving safety and efficiency in agricultural fields is a key task for the future of farming. By actively introducing advanced technology through our collaboration with Hyundai Motor and Kia, we aim to help farmers work more safely and healthily while fostering innovation in the agricultural sector.”

Validating effectiveness in agriculture and expanding cross-industry adoption

Earlier this year, Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Robotics LAB conducted two rounds of field tests in collaboration with the RDA—in May and September—to evaluate the effectiveness of the X-ble Shoulder in agricultural environments. Using electromyography (EMG) sensors, the tests measured changes in deltoid muscle activity during high-load shoulder tasks. The results showed that wearing the X-ble Shoulder reduced shoulder muscle activation by approximately 22 percent, confirming its potential to alleviate shoulder joint load for farmers.

The collaborators will establish a framework for integrating wearable robot into agricultural practices, demonstrate and expand their application in farming environments, and promote awareness of this technology at agricultural sites. Hyundai Motor and Kia plan to validate the usability of the X-ble Shoulder in farming conditions, share insights and develop optimized, agriculture-tailored solutions while actively communicating the results to support broader adoption.

The RDA will play a critical role in supporting the demonstration and usability assessments of wearable robot in the field, identifying demand sources, and connecting with related institutions to facilitate wider adoption. Additionally, the RDA will produce and distribute educational content showcasing the progress of this collaboration. 

Since its launch in November last year, Hyundai Motor and Kia have been exploring the application of X-ble Shoulder across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding and agriculture. Following the first delivery to Korean Air in July 2025, the companies have expanded supply to clients such as Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL), Hyundai Transys and Hyundai Rotem, further broadening the application of wearable robot across industrial sectors.

For inquiries about obtaining the X-ble Shoulder, please visit Hyundai Motor and Kia’s official Robotics LAB website.