Assistive exoskeletons for agricultural workers

Agricultural labour is heavy work and can require difficult postures, imposing a large physical strain on farmers. Assistive exoskeletons are mechanical structures that can be worn while undertaking manual labour to increase strength and endurance. They are rigid wearable devices with linking components that can assist the wearer by producing torques from the user’s motions, or using power to assist movement. Activities most likely to benefit from assistive exoskeletons are lifting and carrying heavy loads, repetitive actions associated with harvesting, using hand tools, and climbing equipment.