The service industry remains one of the sectors where human resources play a critical role. At the same time, daily operational processes are often associated with significant physical demands: long hours spent on their feet, constant movement, repetitive tasks, and the need to maintain a consistent pace throughout an entire shift.
According to publicly available data, more than a quarter of workers worldwide experience back pain — a challenge often linked to workplace conditions. For gas station employees, this issue is especially relevant: during extended shifts, they spend most of their time moving, assisting customers, monitoring product quality, maintaining order in retail areas, and performing various operational tasks.
In these conditions, it is important not only to improve productivity but also to create a work environment that helps preserve employees’ physical well-being and long-term capacity.
Modern Hypershell exoskeletons represent a new approach to physical work — where technology does not replace people but enhances their capabilities.
These exoskeletons combine robotics with elements of artificial intelligence, analyzing user movements and providing additional support during physically demanding tasks. This helps reduce strain on the lower limbs, joints, and back, enabling employees to perform repetitive operations more efficiently throughout long working shifts.
The technology is especially relevant for industries where endurance, movement stability, and task precision are essential — from customer service and logistics to manufacturing and field operations.
The DroneUA team, together with employees of Ukrnafta gas stations, conducted testing of wearable robotic systems in real working conditions. As part of the implementation process, specialists provided staff training, introduced employees to the operating principles of exoskeletons, explained safe usage practices, and adapted the system to individual user needs.
The main goal of the testing was to evaluate how this technology can be integrated into daily operational processes and support employees during long shifts, where a significant amount of time is spent moving, standing, and performing repetitive physical tasks.
Result: a new approach to organizing physical work
The practical application of exoskeletons demonstrates that robotic technologies can become a tool for supporting human performance.
Integrating these systems helps to:
- reduce physical strain during extended work shifts;
- improve employee comfort and safety;
- maintain consistent productivity throughout the work process;
- reduce risks associated with excessive physical workload;
- create a more adaptive working environment.
This approach changes the very concept of automation: the future is not only about robots performing individual tasks, but also about technologies that help people work more efficiently, comfortably, and safely.
We thank the Ukrnafta gas station team for their openness to innovation and willingness to test advanced technological solutions. It is through practical use cases like this that a new culture of safe, efficient, and technology-driven work is being shaped.
Learn more about testing Hypershell exoskeletons in real working conditions in the video case study: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gEX64NnOZI
