An exoskeleton-style robot from Nagoya University in Japan, is a one-handed power suit developed to help construction workers fit ceiling panels.

The team behind the Wearable Robot for Assisting Carpentry Workers created the machine to address the problem of trying to hold a heavy panel aloft with one hand, while riveting, screwing or nailing in place with the other.

The workman first uses his own strength to guide the panel into position, the robot automatically holds the panel in place while the workman rivets or screws it into position.

Test have shown the device does make life easier for the human operator, however, it is currently deemed too bulky for commercial use, and developers hope to produce a slimmer version before moving towards a finished model.

Find out more - Advanced Robotic Systems International (PDF)