FORTIS

The FORTIS is a passive tool holding exoskeleton made by Lockheed Martin.  This exoskeleton has gone through several redesigns over the years.  The latest version is being tested at Lockheed Martin manufacturing plants amongst many other locations.

Description

The FORTIS tool holding exoskeleton takes the weight of a heavy tool and sends it directly into the ground, bypassing the user’s body.  The tool is usually held in a gimbal to allow for rotation and flexibility.  The gimbal is then connected to a spring-loaded arm.  The newest revision of the FORTIS features a new, redesigned spring arm, which is connected to the exoskeleton at the waist.  A set of counterweights at the back keeps the operator steady.

The FORTIS and other tool holding exoskeletons appear to be well received.  However, a prototype runs somewhere around $30,000, which can be a hard sell for a technology that doesn’t have years of research and studies to back it up.  Undoubtedly, the cost would plummet if this exoskeleton goes into mass production.

The FORTIS is designed to reduce fatigue and improve worker safety while handling heavy tools.  It is also great for improving worker efficiency as long as they stay within a relatively small area and need to user a large tool such as a grinder.

Lockheed Martin’s video of the FORTIS by the National Geographic:


Lockheed Martin, website

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.

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