Title
Assessment of an active industrial exoskeleton to aid dynamic lifting and lowering manual handling tasks
Author
Huysamen, K.
de Looze, M.P.
Bosch, T.
Ortiz, J.
Toxin, S.
O'Sullivan, L.W.
Publication year
2018
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an industrial exoskeleton on muscle activity, perceived musculoskeletal effort, measured and perceived contact pressure at the trunk, thighs and shoulders, and subjective usability for simple sagittal plane lifting and lowering conditions. Twelve male participants lifted and lowered a box of 7.5 kg and 15 kg, respectively, from mid-shin height to waist height, five times, both with and without the exoskeleton. The device significantly reduced muscle activity of the Erector Spinae (12%-15%) and Biceps Femoris (5%). Ratings of perceived musculoskeletal effort in the trunk region were significantly less with the device (9.5%-11.4%). The measured contact pressure was highest on the trunk (91.7 kPa-93.8 kPa) and least on shoulders (47.6 kPa-51.7 kPa), whereas pressure was perceived highest on the thighs (35-44% of Max LPP). Six of the users rated the device usability as acceptable. The exoskeleton reduced musculoskeletal loading on the lower back and assisted with hip extensor torque during lifting and lowering. Contact pressures fell below the Pain Pressure Threshold. Perceived pressure was not exceptionally high, but sufficiently high to cause discomfort if used for long durations.
Subject
Life
SP - Sustainable Productivity and Employability
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Work and Employment
Workplace
Healthy Living
Power augmentation
Exoskeleton
Power augmentation
Wearable robotics
Muscle
Musculoskeletal system
Biceps femoris
Contact pressures
Erector spinae
Manual handling
Muscle activities
Power augmentation
Sagittal plane
Robotics
Biceps femoris muscle
Clinical article
Erector spinae muscle
Height
Hip
Human
Male
Muscle function
Pressure pain threshold
Shoulder
Torque
Trunk
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8b20f92b-dcf7-4106-a6f4-7adc04f854d8
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2017.11.004
TNO identifier
782056
Source
Applied Ergonomics, 68, 125-131
Document type
article