2015 Galleries
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Galleries // 2015 Spark:Wear // FORTIS Tool Arm
FORTIS Tool Arm
Winner - Gold
Competition: Spark:Wear
Designer: Rob Brady - CEO / Design Director
Design Type:
Company / Organization / School: ROBRADY design
Website: http://robrady.com
Team Members: Erik Holmen
Matthew Vergin
Steve MacFarlane
Jeff Nichols
The FORTIS tool arm design is a lightweight extension to Lockheed Martin’s FORTIS exoskeleton (previously developed with ROBRADY) and represents the latest in wearable technology that enhances human performance. Targeted particularly for hand-held industrial tool use, the arm has a lightweight, folded aluminum construction that eliminates pinch points. User-selected stainless steel locking mechanisms also prevent unwanted movement for greater safety. By supporting the weight of heavy tools that may weigh as much as 36 pounds, the arm significantly reduces the user’s metabolic burn rate that leads to fatigue and other health issues. Operators using the arm can focus on operating their tools without the strain of having to support them which effectively renders the tool weightless and extends their work periods by a factor of up to 27. Now, one person can safely do the work of many. The tool arm uses an adjustable spring tension system instead of hydraulics or motors, which reduces emissions to zero and can be used with the FORTIS exoskeleton system or station-mounted and operated independently of the system.
