▲HEXAR SYSTEMS CEO, Chang-Soo Han

HEXAR SYSTEMS (www.hexarsystems.com) is a leading manufacturer of exoskeleton robots in Korea. A pioneer in Korean wearable robots, Professor Chang-Soo Han of Hanyang University started the laboratory startup company “HEXAR SYSTEMS.” Professor Han has had either a direct or indirect hand in much of the research on wearable robots in Korea. Hyundai Motor Group's government funded project in 2010 for “technology development for wearable muscle strengthening robots” was indeed guided by the professor.

▲Lower Limb Walk Assistance Robot 'HEXAR WA-H3'

In 2005, Professor Han began research into a wearable upper limb exoskeleton robot at the Advanced Robotics Laboratory in Hanyang University’s Robot Engineering Department. Subsequently in 2006 he succeeded in developing a lower limb exoskeleton robot and upper limb exoskeleton robot; with their applications, he developed a medical rehabilitation robot. Since 2007, he has been working on the Hanyang Exoskeletal Assistive Robot (HEXAR) series, which include muscle strengthening exoskeleton robots and rehabilitation robots. Under the backdrop of his successes in the developing the exoskeleton robot, and based on human-robot collaboration technology, in 2011 he founded the Hanyang University laboratory start-up company HEXAR SYSTEMS.

HEXAR has developed wearable robots for support and strengthening muscles, as well as rehabilitation robots that can be used for general medical purposes. These robots can be applied to six wide-ranging fields that include defense, industrial, medical, silver (senior citizens), disaster rescue, and construction. In addition to HEXAR’S WA-H, the company boasts a diverse portfolio of rehabilitation robots, walking assist devices, and portable assistant robots that restore knee joint functions.

▲Lower Limb Walk Assistance Robot 'HEXAR-WA30'

The company’s predominant products include the HEXAR-WA30, a robot that supports and assists the elderly or people with weak lower limbs in their walking.
The robot’s algorithms determine the ideal walking speed and allow movement of the hip joint with a small force, helping the elderly to walk comfortably and quickly. The machine is able to calculate the user’s speed and stride which adjusts automatically to the user. For convenience to the senior citizen, the robot is equipped with button type conversion functions.

▲Walking Assist for Hemiplegic Patients 'HEXAR WA-H2'

The company has also developed the HEXAR Walking Assist for hemiplegic patients, WA-H2, a walking-assistance robot for hemiplegic patients. Clinical trials undertaken at Hanyang University Hospital have been completed. Not only does it have a walking assist function, it has proven rehabilitative treatment functions that help to strengthen muscular ability in hemiplegic patients. The Upper Rehabilitation Robot UR-20 is a rehabilitation robot for shoulder/elbow musculoskeletal patients that can be used as an orthodedics exercise equipment CPM (Continuous Passive Motion) and CAM (Control Alignment Method) with a 5 DOF mechanism.

HEXAR, together with Hanyang University, is armed with more than 30 technology patents for industrial and medical exoskeleton robots. As a result of their dedication in research, in 2014, the company was awarded the Korean Intellectual Property Office’s Patented Technology Award, also called the Hong Daeyong Award. There is unlimited potential for opening up new markets for domestic and export-use medical robots by improving technology competitiveness and price competitiveness through through simplified, practical wearable robot technology centered on research and development.

▲Upper Rehabilitation Robot 'HEXAR UR-20'

The medical and rehabilitation equipment market is expected to steadily expand due to the increases in medical services as a result of factors such as the aging society and desire for improved quality of life. According to a market research firm, the global medical device market is expected to grow from $ 324.3 billion in 2015 to $ 435.8 billion in 2020. After 2016, the global market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 6.4%. The domestic medical device market has also grown at an average annual rate of 6.3% since 2010.

According to CEO of HEXAR, Chang-Soo Han, "the advantage of the HEXAR SYSTEM is its perfect platform for the upper and lower limbs. Based on the technology we have accumulated on these projects, we are developing new and upgraded products on five fronts: knee rehabilitation, upper extremity rehabilitation (shoulder and elbow), assisted walking, hemiplegia rehabilitation and complete paralysis rehabilitation." Mr. Han explained that if these technologies and products become advanced enough, they can be applied to other fields such as industry, construction, and defense.

▲Knee Rehabilitation Robot 'HEXAR KR40P'

From among the five products, HEXAR SYSTEMS plans to promote the commercialization of the upper limb rehabilitation, lower limb walk assistance, and hemiplegic-use robot. Although there are many things to be done in the future such as product certification procedures and clinical trials, the company plans to actively participate in global exhibitions such as MEDICA in Dusseldorf, Germany, and to promote their technologies abroad.