Experimental studies of a soft industrial exoskeleton in work-related activity for the evaluation of its operational efficiency

Abstract

For conducting the experiment under laboratory conditions, a dedicated workplace was designed to simulate the activity of lifting / lowering a 20 kg load to a height of 0.7 m in the “Squat” and “Stoop” styles. To implement this study, the following methods were employed: “motion capture” to assess the mechanics of movements in the lumbar spine; a non-invasive method for measurement of the key biological indicators as a comprehensive assessment of the state of the cardiorespiratory system; electromyography (EMG) as the main method for assessing the bioelectrical activity of muscles; interviewing volunteers (on a 10-point scale) as a method of subjective assessment of their physical condition and performance. A study conducted as part of the work meant to determine the effectiveness and safety of using a soft industrial exoskeleton during work-related activity, including the elimination of the harm from stereotypic work movements, showed a decrease in the activity of the measured muscles when using a soft industrial exoskeleton, which also indicates a decrease in human fatigue that increases the effectiveness of its operation.