Innovations are constantly making it to the front lines, making life in the bays easier, more productive, and often healthier for technicians. Here are two more to watch for.

One of the downsides of going on vacation for a few weeks is that those first few days back to working under a lift can be painful. Those muscles you use in reaching up just seem to resist getting back to work. Fortunately, there are companies working on products to make routine jobs easier and more productive. One is Levitate Technologies, which makes the AIRFRAME, a lightweight exoskeleton frame worn like a vest that’s designed to reduce muscle stress and fatigue in workers who engage in repetitive arm motion and/or static elevation of the arms—like a technician working under a lift. It’s claimed to reduce the amount of exertion of such work by up to 80% while reducing injuries and downtime.

The AIRFRAME transfers the weight of the arms from the shoulders, neck and upper back to the body’s core, evenly distributing energy to reduce stress. The user can easily put it on and take it off at any time. When an arm is raised, the mechanical support system progressively activates and gradually releases as the arm is lowered, resulting in the right level of support at just the right time. The device is custom-fitted to the user, who can use his arms normally while enjoying reduced fatigue and greater comfort.

An interesting thing about this back-saving device is that it requires no batteries; rather, it’s self-powered by a series of pulleys. When the wearer moves his arms, the device supports and follows the movement. Right now it costs $4000 to $6000, but as more manufacturers like Toyota’s Princeton, Indiana, plant use these exoskeletons (that plant is using 200 of them), the price will likely come down and eventually become affordable for auto repair shops.

Most techs find their tablet as important as a ratchet wrench. But that’s just a start. In the not-so-distant future, technicians might be routinely wearing special augmented reality glasses containing a camera and computer that will look at what the tech is seeing and superimpose step-by-step repair procedures on the lenses. They’ll show what components to remove and in what order, what hose(s) to disconnect, and guide the tech through each job.

The potential for this “wearable glass technology” is tremendous. Several carmakers are already into it in a big way and the technology is still in its early stages. Imagine working through an automatic transmission repair with the exact order and installation procedure superimposed right there as you view the tranny.

A company called RealWear has built the HMT-1, which it claims is the world’s first 100% hands-free, ruggedized, head-mounted wearable device for connected worker programs. Andy Lowery, co-founder and CEO of RealWear, said the device “is solving one of industry’s major dilemmas by bringing the right information to every frontline worker in real time, reducing downtime and improving productivity. We will work closely with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to ensure a successful pilot and rollout to allow them to give the best support to their customers. The new devices allow our team of Technical Support Agents to support our network with a virtual visit, which is as close as possible to the Agent being in the center.”

The Trade Secret is to keep an open mind as to what you think is possible. What may seem unrealistic and like pie in the sky today could be used in vehicle repairs tomorrow. Innovations that will save you time and energy and possibly make you more productive and healthier seem to appear with surprising speed. So don’t be surprised if in a few years your tool man drops by to show you an exoskeleton or a pair of augmented reality glasses just right for you. I welcome your comments on this or any automotive topic. E-mail me at bcerullo@motor.com.