CoExo Research Project: The Role of Exoskeletons in the Interplay Between Movement and Cognition

Exoskeletons are becoming increasingly important in the workplace and are already an integral part of modern work environments in many places. They help make physically demanding tasks more ergonomic, maintain performance over the long term, and reduce absenteeism. As exoskeletons grow in importance, a key question comes into focus: How does the interplay between movement and attention change when exoskeletons are used in everyday work?

This is precisely where the interdisciplinary research project “CoExo – Cognitive-Motor Interferences in Exoskeleton Use” comes in. The project is being conducted by the German Sport University Cologne and the TU Bergakademie Freiberg and is funded by the German Research Foundation.

Exoskeletons – Physical Support for Complex Work Processes

Physical work is more than just muscle activity. Every work process requires precise coordination—a combination of physical movement and cognitive processes involving perception and attention control. Employees must master physical movements, process information, and respond to changing situations. If the demands on either of these two levels are too great, it affects performance on the other level. In scientific terms, this is referred to as cognitive-motor interference. Whether an exoskeleton influences this interplay of movement and cognitive performance through its physical support has not yet been extensively researched, but it is of great interest for achieving perfectly coordinated work with exoskeleton assistance.

CoExo Research Project: The Interaction Between People and Technology

In the CoExo research project, both universities are pooling their expertise to conduct a comprehensive study of human-technology interaction in the use of exoskeletons. The German Sport University Cologne is focusing on the physiological and cognitive effects of exoskeleton use, while the TU Bergakademie Freiberg is integrating a wide variety of levels of intelligent support into the exoskeleton’s control system.

The study examines how these different levels of intelligence in exoskeleton control influence the allocation of cognitive and motor resources in realistic work situations. The focus is not only on whether exoskeletons reduce physical strain, but also on how they can be designed to provide optimal support to users without placing additional demands on their cognitive abilities. “An exoskeleton can reduce physical strain, but it must not come at the expense of precision or safety,” explains Prof. Dr. Bettina Wollesen of the German Sport University Cologne. “That’s why it’s important to understand when assistive systems truly provide support and when they create additional demands.”

A key goal of CoExo is to develop a model that describes how physical and mental resources interact at work. This model is intended to help design intelligent exoskeleton functions that automatically adapt to the user and the work context. Future exoskeleton developments should automatically recognize how support can be adjusted so that physical relief and cognitive performance form an optimal combination.

exoIQ as a Research Partner

exoIQ provides its exoskeletons as research tools for this and other research projects. We see ourselves not only as a manufacturer of innovative exoskeletons for everyday use, but also as an active partner to the scientific community.

This close integration of research and practice forms the foundation for our support systems: innovative exoskeletons that meet the demands of modern work environments. Systems that not only reduce physical strain but also provide intelligent support—for healthy, efficient, and sustainable workplaces.

‍