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Gao PF, Zhi JY, Hu JD, Wang J, Xu YS, Zou R, Ding TC, Yang L. The factors affecting the performance of the tunnel wall drilling task and their priority. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9564. [PMID: 38671037 PMCID: PMC11053030 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60381-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Clarifying the relationship between the man-machine environment and its impact on the tunnel wall drilling task performance (TWDTP) is crucial for enhancing the task performance. Based on a questionnaire survey, indicators of the man-machine environment that affect the TWDTP were proposed in this study, and exploratory factor analysis and a structural equation model were employed to examine the potential factors influencing the task performance and their degrees of influence. By comparing the discrepancy between the perceived performance and importance, the satisfaction of potential factors was evaluated, and the priority order for optimizing these factors was determined by considering the degree of influence and dissatisfaction. The results of survey data analysis based on actual tunnel drilling operation scenarios indicated that tools had the greatest impact on the TWDTP, followed by the quality of the physical environment, while human factors had the least influence on the task performance. Convenient functional maintenance is the key to improving the TWDTP, along with enhancing the quality of the working environment. Once these main aspects are optimized, it is important to consider additional factors such as availability of spare tools, efficient personnel organization, man-tool matching, and safety and health assurance. This research approach provides significant guidance in understanding the relationships between the man-machine environmental factors affecting the performance of complex engineering tasks and identifying key influencing factors, thus providing essential insights for optimizing the TWDTP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Fei Gao
- Department of Industrial Design, School of Design, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China.
- School of Design, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610500, China.
| | - Jin-Yi Zhi
- Department of Industrial Design, School of Design, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China.
- School of Design, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610500, China.
| | - Ji-Dong Hu
- China Railway Eight Bureau Group Electrical Engineering Co., LTD, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Industrial Design, School of Mechatronic Engineering, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Yong-Sheng Xu
- Department of Industrial Design, School of Design, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Rui Zou
- Department of Industrial Design, School of Design, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Tie-Cheng Ding
- Department of Industrial Design, School of Design, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Industrial Design, School of Design, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
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2
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Brambilla C, Lavit Nicora M, Storm F, Reni G, Malosio M, Scano A. Biomechanical Assessments of the Upper Limb for Determining Fatigue, Strain and Effort from the Laboratory to the Industrial Working Place: A Systematic Review. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10040445. [PMID: 37106632 PMCID: PMC10135542 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10040445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent human-centered developments in the industrial field (Industry 5.0) lead companies and stakeholders to ensure the wellbeing of their workers with assessments of upper limb performance in the workplace, with the aim of reducing work-related diseases and improving awareness of the physical status of workers, by assessing motor performance, fatigue, strain and effort. Such approaches are usually developed in laboratories and only at times they are translated to on-field applications; few studies summarized common practices for the assessments. Therefore, our aim is to review the current state-of-the-art approaches used for the assessment of fatigue, strain and effort in working scenarios and to analyze in detail the differences between studies that take place in the laboratory and in the workplace, in order to give insights on future trends and directions. A systematic review of the studies aimed at evaluating the motor performance, fatigue, strain and effort of the upper limb targeting working scenarios is presented. A total of 1375 articles were found in scientific databases and 288 were analyzed. About half of the scientific articles are focused on laboratory pilot studies investigating effort and fatigue in laboratories, while the other half are set in working places. Our results showed that assessing upper limb biomechanics is quite common in the field, but it is mostly performed with instrumental assessments in laboratory studies, while questionnaires and scales are preferred in working places. Future directions may be oriented towards multi-domain approaches able to exploit the potential of combined analyses, exploitation of instrumental approaches in workplace, targeting a wider range of people and implementing more structured trials to translate pilot studies to real practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Brambilla
- Istituto di Sistemi e Tecnologie Industriali Intelligenti per il Manifatturiero Avanzato (STIIMA), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Previati 1/E, 23900 Lecco, Italy
| | - Matteo Lavit Nicora
- Istituto di Sistemi e Tecnologie Industriali Intelligenti per il Manifatturiero Avanzato (STIIMA), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Previati 1/E, 23900 Lecco, Italy
- Industrial Engineering Department, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Storm
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Scientific Institute, IRCCS “Eugenio Medea”, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Reni
- Informatics Department, Autonomous Province of Bolzano, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Matteo Malosio
- Istituto di Sistemi e Tecnologie Industriali Intelligenti per il Manifatturiero Avanzato (STIIMA), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Previati 1/E, 23900 Lecco, Italy
| | - Alessandro Scano
- Istituto di Sistemi e Tecnologie Industriali Intelligenti per il Manifatturiero Avanzato (STIIMA), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Previati 1/E, 23900 Lecco, Italy
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3
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Fan H, Yu S, Wang M, Li M, Zhao X, Ren Y, Zhang S, Chen D, Harris Adamson C. Analysis of the external acoustic meatus for ergonomic design: part II - anthropometric variations of the external acoustic meatus by sex, age and side in Chinese population. ERGONOMICS 2021; 64:657-670. [PMID: 33350898 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2020.1867769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
For devices worn inside the ear, detailed anthropometric data of the external acoustic meatus (EAM) is needed, yet lacking due to the complex and costly methodology associated with attaining such measurements. The purpose of this study was to provide the anthropometric characteristics of the EAM including variations by age group, sex, and side (right/left). 1400 external ears (700 Chinese subjects) were casted and scanned. A total of 23 EAM dimensions of length, width, angle, circumference and area were measured, most of which changed by age group, sex and side. 19 measurements were larger in males and 17 measurements were larger in left-side ears. Except the entrance length and circumference, measurements were not statistically significant between left- and right-side ears. This study provides key anthropometric measurements of the EAM in a Chinese population which can be used for ergonomic design purposes. Practitioner summary: This study provides an available source for anthropometric variations of the external acoustic meatus by age, gender and side in the Chinese population, which can be used as a reference to improve the fit, comfort and function of in-ear wearable devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Fan
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Design and Ergonomics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Design, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Suihuai Yu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Design and Ergonomics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Design, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Mengcheng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Design and Ergonomics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Design, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mei Li
- College of Humanities and Arts, University of Finance and Economics, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiao Zhao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Yihui Ren
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Design and Ergonomics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Design, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Design and Ergonomics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Design, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dengkai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Design and Ergonomics, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Design, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Carisa Harris Adamson
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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4
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Adeleye AA, Alabdulkarim SA, Nussbaum MA. Impacts of different fabric scissor designs on physical demands and performance in simulated fabric cutting tasks. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2020; 89:103219. [PMID: 32854826 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
While there is wide evidence that the occupational use of hand tools increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorder, evidence is limited regarding manual scissors, commonly used by custom tailors for bespoke garment production. We assessed whether scissor design impacts physical demands (muscle activity, perceived discomfort, and wrist posture) and task performance (quality and perceived efficiency). Twenty-four novice volunteers each completed simulated cutting tasks in 24 conditions involving the factorial combinations of four scissor designs (SD), three workstation heights, and two fabric types. SD significantly affected all outcome measures, and differences between SDs were consistent across workstation heights and fabric types. Two wide-handles scissors appeared superior overall, which may be related to the distinct grip type employed with this type of design. These results suggest that careful scissor selection has the potential to both reduce injury risk and enhance performance during fabric cutting tasks, though future testing is needed under more realistic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adedoyin A Adeleye
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Saad A Alabdulkarim
- Industrial Engineering Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maury A Nussbaum
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
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5
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Gómez-Galán M, Callejón-Ferre ÁJ, Pérez-Alonso J, Díaz-Pérez M, Carrillo-Castrillo JA. Musculoskeletal Risks: RULA Bibliometric Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E4354. [PMID: 32560566 PMCID: PMC7345928 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17124354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to reveal RULA method applications in terms of the knowledge, country, year and journal categories. The search was performed using the "Web of Science Core Collection". The period from 1993 to April 2019 was selected. Eight hundred nine results were obtained, of which 226 were used. The largest number of publications was determined to be in the fields of industry and health and social assistance, which coincides with the OWAS and Standardized Nordic Questionnaire methods. By country, the USA stands out for its greater number of research studies and categories that are encompassed. By date, 2016 was the year when more studies were carried out, again coinciding with the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire. By journal, "Work-A Journal of Prevention Assessment and Rehabilitation" is highlighted, as it is for the REBA method as well. It was concluded that RULA can be applied to workers in different fields, usually in combination with other methods, while technological advancement provides benefits for its application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gómez-Galán
- Department of Engineering, University of Almería, Research Center CIMEDES (CeiA3), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Ángel-Jesús Callejón-Ferre
- Department of Engineering, University of Almería, Research Center CIMEDES (CeiA3), 04120 Almería, Spain
- Laboratory-Observatory Andalusian Working Conditions in the Agricultural Sector (LASA), 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - José Pérez-Alonso
- Department of Engineering, University of Almería, Research Center CIMEDES (CeiA3), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Manuel Díaz-Pérez
- Department of Engineering, University of Almería, Research Center CIMEDES (CeiA3), 04120 Almería, Spain
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6
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Soares CO, Pereira BF, Pereira Gomes MV, Marcondes LP, de Campos Gomes F, de Melo-Neto JS. Preventive factors against work-related musculoskeletal disorders: narrative review. Rev Bras Med Trab 2020; 17:415-430. [PMID: 32368676 DOI: 10.5327/z1679443520190360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are major causes of morbidity among workers. They comprise several signs and symptoms, as e.g. pain, paresthesia, fatigue and limited range of motion, which can be related to work tasks. Workplace-related factors include physical, psychological, social and biomechanical hazards. The main kinetic factors associated with MSDs include repetitive movements, exerting excessive force, awkward postures, compression and mechanical vibration. Accurate knowledge of epidemiological aspects, evaluation of ergonomic hazards and musculoskeletal symptoms, and workplace exercise may help reduce the occurrence of MSDs. The aim of the present review is to analyze the applicability of preventive strategies against MSDs among workers. We performed a narrative review based on a survey of databases PubMed and BIREME and included studies published in English, Spanish or Portuguese. We found that workplace exercise is beneficial for both employers and workers. Risk analysis of MSDs is essential for early identification of occupational hazards and to prevent health consequences and costs associated with absenteeism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Laís Passos Marcondes
- Physical Therapy, Centro Universitário de Rio Preto - São José do Rio Preto (SP), Brazil
| | - Fabiana de Campos Gomes
- Health Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto - São José do Rio Preto (SP), Brazil
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7
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Alabdulkarim SA, Farhan AM, Ramadan MZ. Development and Investigation of a Wearable Aid for a Load Carriage Task. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17030749. [PMID: 31991625 PMCID: PMC7037516 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17030749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Anterior load carriage tasks are common and can lead to musculoskeletal disorders such as lower back pain. The objectives of this study were to develop a wearable carriage aid and examine its effectiveness on physical demands while considering the potential moderating influence of the carried load. The study consisted of two within-subject factors: device and load. For the former, two levels were tested: with and without the device worn. For the latter, two loads were examined: 15 and 30% of each individual’s body mass. Sixteen participants walked on a treadmill for five minutes at a constant speed for each condition. Physical demands were quantified using objective (EMG-based) and subjective (discomfort) measures. Wearing the device reduced static and median anterior deltoid, trapezius, and biceps brachii muscle activations. Increasing the carried load increased most physical demand measures. Two significant Device×Load interactions were observed; for the anterior deltoid and trapezius median activation measures, the influence of increasing load was lower when the device was worn. While slightly increasing perceived discomfort in the lower back, wearing the device reduced shoulder, neck, and hand/wrist discomfort. While the study demonstrated a potential for the device, future work is required under more realistic and diverse testing conditions.
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8
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Rezzoug N, Wang X, Hernandez V, Gorce P. Maximal isometric force exertion predicted by the force feasible set formalism: application to handbraking. ERGONOMICS 2019; 62:1551-1562. [PMID: 31496431 DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2019.1660418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to test the capacity of the force feasible set formalism to predict maximal force exertion during isometric handbraking. Maximal force exertion and upper-limb posture were measured with a force sensor embedded in a handbrake and an optoelectronic system, respectively. Eleven subjects participated in the experiment which consisted of exerting the maximal force in isometric conditions considering five hand brake positions relative to the seat H-point. Then, maximal force was predicted by the force feasible set obtained from an upper-limb musculoskeletal model. The root-mean-square (RMS) of the angle between measured and predicted forces was 8.4° while the RMS error (RMSE) for amplitude prediction was 95.4 N. However, predicted, and measured force amplitudes were highly correlated (r = 0.88, p < 0.05, slope = 0.97, intercept = 73.3N) attesting the capacity of the model to predict force exertion according to the subject's posture. The implications in the framework of ergonomics are then discussed. Practitioner summary: Maximal force exertion is of paramount importance in digital human modelling. We used the force feasible set formalism to predict maximal force exertion during handbraking from posture and anthropometric data. The predicted and measured force orientation showed a RMS of 8.4° while amplitude presented a RMSE of 95.4 N with a strong correlation (r = 0.88, p < 0.05, slope 0.97, intercept 77.3 N).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasser Rezzoug
- AUCTUS Team, INRIA Bordeaux, University of Toulon , Toulon , France
| | - Xuguang Wang
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, Ifsttar , Lyon , France
| | - Vincent Hernandez
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada
| | - Philippe Gorce
- AUCTUS Team, INRIA Bordeaux, University of Toulon , Toulon , France
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9
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Alabdulkarim S, Kim S, Nussbaum MA. Effects of exoskeleton design and precision requirements on physical demands and quality in a simulated overhead drilling task. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2019; 80:136-145. [PMID: 31280797 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2019.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We compared three passive exoskeleton designs in a mock drilling task under three precision requirements levels, defined by required hole sizes, in terms of physical demands (perceived exertion and muscular activation) and quality. The investigated designs were: 1) an upper-body exoskeleton mainly supporting the shoulder; and both 2) full-body, and 3) upper-body exoskeletons, each with connected supernumerary arms. At a fixed pace, participants (n = 12) repeated "drilling" two same-sized holes for 2 min. A fairly consistent result across exoskeleton designs was that higher precision demands increased some muscle activation levels and deteriorated quality. Designs with supernumerary arms led to the largest reductions in quality and increased physical demands overall, mainly in the low back. The shoulder-focused exoskeleton reduced shoulder demands but appeared to reduce quality with the highest precision requirement. Although future work is needed under more diverse/realistic scenarios, these results might be useful to (re)design occupational exoskeletons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad Alabdulkarim
- Industrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sunwook Kim
- Department of Industrial and System Engineering, Virginia Tech, 250 Durham Hall (0118), Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Maury A Nussbaum
- Department of Industrial and System Engineering, Virginia Tech, 250 Durham Hall (0118), Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA; Virginia Tech - Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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10
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Kim S, Nussbaum MA. A Follow-Up Study of the Effects of An Arm Support Exoskeleton on Physical Demands and Task Performance During Simulated Overhead Work. IISE Trans Occup Ergon Hum Factors 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/24725838.2018.1551255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sunwook Kim
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Maury A. Nussbaum
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
- Virginia Tech—Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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11
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Alabdulkarim S, Nussbaum MA. Influences of different exoskeleton designs and tool mass on physical demands and performance in a simulated overhead drilling task. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2019; 74:55-66. [PMID: 30487110 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2018.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We compared different passive exoskeletal designs in terms of physical demands (maximum acceptable frequency = MAF, perceived discomfort, and muscular loading) and quality in a simulated overhead drilling task, and the moderating influence of tool mass (∼2 and ∼5 kg). Three distinct designs were used: full-body and upper-body exoskeletons with attached mechanical arms; and an upper-body exoskeleton providing primarily shoulder support. Participants (n = 16, gender-balanced) simulated drilling for 15 min to determine their MAF, then maintained this pace for three additional minutes while the remaining outcome measures were obtained. The full-body/upper-body devices led to the lowest/highest MAF for females and the lowest quality. The shoulder support design reduced peak shoulder muscle loading but did not significantly affect either quality or MAF. Differences between exoskeleton designs were largely consistent across the two tool masses. These results may be helpful to (re)design exoskeletons to help reduce injury risk and improve performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad Alabdulkarim
- Industrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maury A Nussbaum
- Department of Industrial and System Engineering, Virginia Tech, 250 Durham Hall (0118), Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA; Virginia Tech - Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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12
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Sharif-Human movement instrumentation system (SHARIF-HMIS): Development and validation. Med Eng Phys 2018; 61:87-94. [PMID: 30181023 DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The interest in wearable systems among the biomedical engineering and clinical community continues to escalate as technical refinements enhance their potential use for both indoor and outdoor applications. For example, an important wearable technology known as a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is demonstrating promising applications in the area of biomedical engineering. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the Sharif-Human Movement Instrumentation System (SHARIF-HMIS), consisting of inertial measurement units (IMUs), stretchable clothing, and a data logger-all of which can be used outside the controlled environment of a laboratory, thus enhancing its overall utility. This system is lightweight, portable, able to be deliver data for almost 10 h, and features a new data-fusion algorithm using the Kalman filter with an adaptive approach. In specific terms, the data from the system's gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer sensors can be combined to estimate total-body orientation; additionally, the noise level of these sensors can be changed to accommodate faster motions as well as magnetic disturbances. These variations can be incorporated within the extended Kalman filter by changing the parameters of the filter adaptively. In specific terms, the system's interface was developed to acquire data from eighteen IMUs located on the body to collect kinematic data associated with human motion. Meanwhile, a validation test involving one subject performing different shoulder motions was designed to compare data captured by SHARIF-HMIS and the VICON motion-capture system. This validation test demonstrated correlation values of >0.9. Results also confirmed that the output accuracy of the new system's sensor was <0.55, 1.5 and 3.5° for roll, pitch, and yaw directions, respectively. In summary, SHARIF-HMIS successfully collected kinematic data for specific human movements, which has promising implications for a range of sporting, biomedical, and healthcare-related applications.
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13
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Weston EB, Alizadeh M, Knapik GG, Wang X, Marras WS. Biomechanical evaluation of exoskeleton use on loading of the lumbar spine. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2018; 68:101-108. [PMID: 29409622 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate biomechanical loading to the low back as a result of wearing an exoskeletal intervention designed to assist in occupational work. Twelve subjects simulated the use of two powered hand tools with and without the use of a Steadicam vest with an articulation tool support arm in a laboratory environment. Dependent measures of peak and mean muscle forces in ten trunk muscles and peak and mean spinal loads were examined utilizing a dynamic electromyography-assisted spine model. The exoskeletal device increased both peak and mean muscle forces in the torso extensor muscles (p < 0.001). Peak and mean compressive spinal loads were also increased up to 52.5% and 56.8%, respectively, for the exoskeleton condition relative to the control condition (p < 0.001). The results of this study highlight the need to design exoskeletal interventions while anticipating how mechanical loads might be shifted or transferred with their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric B Weston
- Spine Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; Department of Integrated Systems Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
| | - Mina Alizadeh
- Spine Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; Department of Integrated Systems Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Gregory G Knapik
- Spine Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; Department of Integrated Systems Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Xueke Wang
- Department of Integrated Systems Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - William S Marras
- Spine Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; Department of Integrated Systems Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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