WAYNE, Mich.—Robots have replaced many U.S. manufacturing workers, but new mechanical exoskeletons being tested by Ford Motor Co may make factory workers function more like bionic people, in an effort to reduce the physical damage of millions of repetitive tasks over many years.
The U.S. automaker said on Thursday that workers at two U.S. factories are testing upper-body exoskeletons developed by Richmond, California-based EksoBionics Holdings Inc, which are designed to reduce injuries and increase productivity.