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Retail verified Verified Outcome TRL 7

Exoskeletons for Staff Safety

domain Client: A major home improvement retailer handshake Provider: Virginia Tech / Levitate schedule Deploy: Q3 2017 (Pilot)
84 Impact
Enterprise Ready
Evidence Score: 4/10
Strength: Medium

Executive Summary

ANALYST: COI RESEARCH

To reduce fatigue and back injuries among stocking staff, the retailer piloted non-motorized exoskeletons. These wearable carbon-fiber suits store kinetic energy when the worker bends or squats, releasing it to assist them when lifting heavy items, acting as a 'shock absorber' for the human body.

rate_review Analyst Verdict

"A proactive investment in workforce longevity. While widespread adoption is slow due to cost and 'comfort' friction, the measurable reduction in metabolic energy expenditure confirms the efficacy for heavy-lift roles. It signals a shift from 'replacing' humans to 'augmenting' them."

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Full Audit Report Available Includes Risk Register, Technical Specs & Compliance Data.

warning The Challenge

Retail employees in home improvement continuously lift heavy boxes (cement, tiles), leading to high rates of musculoskeletal injuries and fatigue. This results in workers' comp claims, absenteeism, and lower productivity.

psychology The Solution

The retailer partnered with Virginia Tech to design a passive exoskeleton. It uses carbon fiber trusses to transfer weight from the spine to the legs. It requires no batteries. Staff wore them during stocking shifts to test comfort and utility.

settings_suggest Technical & Deployment Specs

Integrations
None
Deployment Model
Hardware
Data Classification
N/A
Estimated TCO / ROI
Medium
POC Summary (2017-05-01 to 2018-05-01)

"Pilot at Christiansburg, VA store."

shield Risk Register & Mitigation

Risk Factor Severity Mitigation Strategy
User Compliance High Design for comfort; voluntary adoption.
Cost per Unit Medium Mass production reducing unit economics.

trending_up Impact Trajectory

Audited value realization curve

Reduction in metabolic energy use by ~10-15% Verified Outcome
Primary KPIZero battery requirements (Passive)
Audit CyclePositive impact on employee retention in heavy roles

policy Compliance & Gov

  • Standards: OSHA Safety Gear
  • Maturity (TRL): 7
  • Evidence Score: 4/10
  • Data Class: N/A

folder_shared Verified Assets

description
Verified Case Study
PDF • Version 1
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Technical Audit
PDF • Audited
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The "Blind Verification" Protocol

How we verified these outcomes for A major home improvement retailer without exposing sensitive IP or identities.

Private
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1. Raw Evidence

Audit ID: #PRIV-819
Evidence: Direct SQL Logs
Public
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2. Verified Asset

Outcome: Verified
Ref ID: #COI-819

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