Description

Skelex Ironhand is a modular industrial hand-support system built around a glove, power pack, carry solution, and arm straps. It is positioned for workers performing grip-intensive tasks and uses integrated sensing plus powered assistance to support grasping, helping users apply less muscular effort during repetitive or sustained hand work.

The Ironhand system consists of a glove, covering all five fingers, and a power pack worn in a backpack or hip-carry. The pressure sensors in the glove activate the sophisticated control system in the powerpack and pull artificial tendons in the fingers, creating a strong and natural grasping motion. Each finger is actuated independently and the provided force is comparable to the human one. 

The Smart Assist function uses machine learning to adapt the behavior of the glove based on how the operator is using the glove. In addition to the Smart Assist function, the operator can configure the system manually and adjust force, sensitivity, locking tendency, force balance, and much more. Via the remote control or the IronConnect Pro app, the operator is meant to easily adjust the glove’s behavior if necessary.

The current Skelex product page lists assistance of up to 16 N (3.6 lbf) per finger and 80 N (18.0 lbf) total, with adjustable force, sensitivity, locking behavior, and finger-linking settings, plus digital ergonomic risk assessment support based on HAL-TLV and DUET. Total system weight is listed as less than 3 kg (<6.6 lb), battery life is approximately 8 hours, sizing runs from S to XL, and the user manual states that a protective glove must be worn over the Ironhand glove.

The Ironhand® is the successor of the Robotic SEM™(Soft Extra Muscle) glove.

Specifications:

• Application(s): Industrial grip assistance / augmentation; repetitive and static hand-task support; fatigue reduction; demanding and precise hand work; ergonomic risk reduction for grip-intensive tasks.
• Certifications / Third-Party Testing: CE Declaration available on the current Skelex product page.
• Exoskeleton Characteristics (notable features): Modular system with glove, power pack, carry solution, and arm straps; integrated pressure sensors on all five fingers; remote control; app-based system feedback, settings, and usage tracking; configurable force, sensitivity, locking behavior, and finger linking; HAL-TLV and DUET ergonomic risk reporting.
• Weight of Device: less than 3 kg (<6.6 lb).
• Operating temperature is -5°C to +40°C (23°F to 104°F)

As of June 17, 2024, Skelex acquired the rights for Ironhand from Bioservo. “Through this agreement, Skelex takes over the rights to develop and sell Ironhand and expands its portfolio of exoskeletons for the industrial market. Bioservo will fully focus on the life science market and continue to develop and sell Carbonhand.”

Skelex, Saturnusstraat 95, 2516 AG, The Hague, website

Bioservo AB, Isafjordsgatan 39B, 164 40 Kista, Sweden, website

This product is featured as part of our Patreon Corporate Tier level, giving it prioritized placement in relevant searches for enhanced visibility.

Exoskeleton Report does not endorse one exoskeleton product over another.  The exoskeleton catalog is purely for educational purposes.  The catalog is meant to provide an easily accessible birds-eye view of the exoskeleton industry, and a quick method to sort exoskeletons by type and purpose.  All prices are approximate and are meant to provide a general sense of the cost of the devices.

This exoskeleton catalog entry has been made with the assistance of Stefano Carisi, MS in BioRobotics and Biomechanical Design from the Delft University of Technology an experienced product manager in human-machine collaboration.