Advances in wearable robotics are helping to remove the physical strain of lifting heavy objects. Entrepreneurs in Tokyo hope that Japan's aging society will open new opportunities to address the age-old problem of moving objects from Point A to Point B.

At Innophys (an amalgam of the words "innovation" and "physical support"), the solution to having fewer and older human workers is to equip them with the Muscle Suit, a lightweight, strap-on, ergonomic apparatus that partially reduces the load of lifted objects.

The metal Muscle Suit straps like a backpack to the shoulders, with extensions attaching to the forearms and upper thighs. The unit is pneumatically (air pressure) powered, and comes with options for an external pump, which tethers to the suit by hose, or on-board tank, which allows more freedom of movement. The switch mechanism can be mounted for control under the chin or activated by the user's breath.

Various iterations of the device have yielded a three-model current lineup, with the heaviest unit weighing less than 7kg (15.4 lbs).

"The problem with lifting objects is not so much that they are heavy; it's also that people don't know the proper way of lifting," says Naoki Tomita, a new product development officer at the company. "Ideally, one should straighten his or her back to a perpendicular position to the ground and use their legs as primary drivers to pick something off the floor. But it's easy to forget, and even easier to injury one's self - even if the load is a relatively light one."

Mr. Tomita and his colleagues were busy demonstrating the suit at a recent Tokyo trade show to a sizeable crowd of onlookers. Strapping on the unit takes less than 30 seconds, and does not feel awkward or unencumbering. Once the switching mechanism had been mastered, volunteers bent over a weight of approximately 20kg and grasp its sides. With a hiss of air the Muscle Suit springs to action, and with a light jerk helps the thighs, lower back, and arms to lift the weight, making it feel approximately two-thirds lighter.

"A little practice makes perfect with this machine, but the learning and acclimation process is designed to be easy," says Mr. Tomita. The Muscle Suit is rated as reducing liftable loads by as much as 30kgs at any one time.

Founded by Tokyo University of Science Professor Hiroshi Kobayashi, Innophys' design has seen commercial success. As of mid-March, the firm had sold about 1,200 of the machines, with many going to elderly patient/assistance facilities and to shippers that handle large volumes of packages that need to be processed manually.

Japanese-designed wearable robots are becoming increasingly prevalent, largely in response to the nation's shrinking manual labor force and aging population. Innophys' device follows Cyberdyne's family of HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) cyborg-type electrically controlled suits, which have already established a global presence. Nara-based ActiveLink has also been marketing its AWN-03 Power Assist Suit since late 2015.