Engineers at The University of Texas at Arlington have developed a lightweight, air-powered soft robotic exoskeleton that helps reduce muscle injuries and improve workplace safety. The Pneumatically Actuated Soft Elbow Exoskeleton (PASE) assists arm movement during lifting and assembly tasks that helps prevent musculoskeletal disorders affecting millions of workers each year.
Funded by UTA’s Interdisciplinary Research Program, the project was led by Dr. Mahmudur Rahman from the Department of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering, with co-principal investigator Dr. Muthu Wijesundara from UTARI’s Biomedical Technologies Division; Veysel Erel, research scientist III at UTARI; Eshwara Prasad Sridhar, graduate research assistant in the Department of IMSE. Initial tests involving participants aged between 18-45 using the exoskeleton showed up to a 22% reduction in muscle activity and reported less fatigue during lifting tasks.
To read more, visit: https://www.uta.edu/news/news-releases/2025/10/24/do-more-with-less-utas-robotic-arm