(NEWSER) – Lowe’s uniforms just got a serious upgrade in Christiansburg, Va., where shoppers may spot a new robotic exosuit in action. CNN Tech reports that four employees there are testing out an exoskeleton prototype that aids workers with heavy lifting. The technology looks much like a harness, with carbon-fiber rods that run along the wearer’s back and thighs. As the worker bends to lift objects, the shafts collect potential energy, which springs back and releases upon standing. The idea stemmed from Lowe’s Innovation Labs, which partners with sci-fi writers to create futuristic narratives for potential technology. In this example, the imagined technology grants employees super human powers to maximize performance, Lowe’s says. From there, the suit was designed in collaboration with Virginia Tech engineering professor Dr. Alan Asbeck.
