Sarcos, Navy to Evaluate Potential Use of Exoskeletons, Robots in Shipyard Operations

Sarcos Robotics and the U.S. Navy have teamed up to assess and field exoskeleton technologies and robots at naval shipyards to perform inspection and handling operations.

The company said Monday it will work with Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility to rate and deploy its Guardian XO full-body exoskeleton and Guardian S inspection robot.

The effort will focus on the technologies’ potential application in heavy item manipulation and operation in confined spaces to support the modernization, maintenance and decommissioning of the service’s submarines and ships.

Ben Wolff, chairman and CEO of Sarcos, said the company’s partnership with the Navy on robotic systems seeks to advance human productivity and worker safety.

The U.S. Air Force also tapped Sarcos in 2018 to develop a second exoskeleton robot to support the service’s logistics operations.