“With their steps now burdened by injury in place of military gear, we aim to give them our support as they struggle to move forward.”
The campaign video ‘10m, March’ demonstrates how the 10-meter hospital corridor that injured soldiers in rehabilitation must walk down can seem like the longest and loneliest march in the world.
The video shows a soldier with an injured leg taking slow steps one by one through a cold hospital corridor, relying on a walking rehabilitation robot.
The robot featured in the video is the medical wearable robot ‘X-ble Mex’, developed by Hyundai Motor Group’s Robotics Lab. It helps patients dealing with injuries to their lower limbs to rebuild muscles and restore movement in their joints.
Providing Hope Through Two Walking Rehabilitation Robots
‘X-ble’ is a wearable robot brand created by combining ‘X,’ symbolizing the infinite potential of robotics technology, and ‘able,’ meaning the ability to make anything a reality.
As this name suggests, Hyundai Motor Group is using technology to assist in the rehabilitation and recovery of injured South Korean soldiers. In August 2024, they signed a partnership agreement with the South Korea Armed Forces Medical Command to donate two ‘X-ble Mex’ robots to the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at the Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital’s Department of Rehabilitative Medicine.
Encouraging Patients to Keep Working Toward Rehabilitation Through the Technology of ‘X-ble Mex’
‘X-ble Mex’ provides patients with the physical support necessary to balance and walk through a real-time actuator control system, offering a more stable rehabilitation environment compared to traditional rehabilitation devices.
The robot goes beyond simple walking assistance to provide support for a variety of movements such as sitting, standing, walking, turning, and climbing stairs, greatly enhancing both treatment efficiency and patients’ attitudes toward the rehabilitation process. Additionally, it is designed with a forward center of gravity, simplifying the process of wearing the robot and reducing the physical strain on medical staff assisting with rehabilitation.
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Traditional rehabilitation devices involve patients passively performing prescribed motions in fixed spaces, which can weaken their motivation and worsen their attitudes toward rehabilitation. However, ‘X-ble Mex’ allows the patient to actually walk, enabling them to engage more proactively in their own rehabilitation.
Hyundai Motor Group, Senior Research Engineer Ahn Guk-hyun
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Not knowing when they will be able to keep their balance when standing, or when they will be able to walk alone without a cane, is one of the most difficult aspects of the journey toward recovery for wounded soldiers. This advanced equipment generously provided by Hyundai Motor Group will greatly aid in the rehabilitation process of these soldiers.
Korean Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Head of Rehabilitation Medicine Department Kim Kyung-eun
Helping Smooth the Transition to a Normal Life Through Stipends for Living Expenses
To help ease injured soldiers in their recovery, Hyundai Motor Group also provides a stipend to the families of soldiers who have sustained severe injuries during service, to support them while they fulfill caregiver roles.
“If we never stop moving forward, we can walk every road in the world together.”
Hyundai Motor Group will continue to utilize its technology and capabilities to support people who dedicate themselves to the country of South Korea, such as the soldiers of the South Korean military.
