Testiranje uporabnosti eksoskeleta v tovarni

MIHELČIČ, JACINTA (author), Geršak, Gregor (mentor), Babič, Jan (comentor)

S povečanjem kostno-mišičnih obolenj kot posledice razmer na delovnih mestih je postalo potrebno delovna mesta čim bolj ergonomsko oblikovati. To pomeni, da delovno mesto oblikujemo tako, da se okolica prilagodi človeku in njegovemu gibanju. Ker v veliko primerih to ni mogoče, je treba poseči po dodatni tehnologiji. V našem primeru smo s predstavniki Inštituta »Jožef Stefan« v tovarni Revoz preskušali eksoskelet PAEXO podjetja Ottobock. To je naprava, ki je oblikovana za pomoč in razbremenitev pri delu nad glavo. V prvem delu magistrske naloge smo predstavili problem, kaj je ergonomija in kako lahko z njo pomagamo človeku, potem smo predstavili eksoskelete in načine merjenja, ki smo jih uporabili. V drugem delu smo se osredotočili na opravljeno študijo, kjer smo opisali potek študije, uporabljeno opremo, hipoteze, cilje ter predstavitev rezultatov in ugotovitve. Meritve smo opravili na treh osebah. Najprej smo opazovali delo nad glavo brez eksoskeleta, nato pa še z eksoskeletom, in sicer v prvem tednu nošenja in po 20 dneh nošenja. Na osebah smo za oceno fizičnega napora merili srčni utrip in za oceno gibanja opazovali spremembe v kotih rame in komolca. Osebe so izpolnile dva vprašalnika (Nasa-TLX in vprašalnik o sprejemanju eksoskeleta). Ker oseb, na katerih smo preizkušali eksoskelet, ni bilo dovolj za zanesljivo sklepanje in povprečenje rezultatov ne bi prineslo pomembne informacije, smo rezultate oseb obravnavali posamično. Namen študije je bil preveriti, ali je eksoskelet uporaben v takem delovnem okolju in ali dejansko pomaga pri izvajanju naloge oziroma ali zmanjšuje napor. Z meritvami smo potrdili, da eksoskelet pomaga delavcu pri delu nad glavo. Rezultati so pokazali, da je eksoskelet olajšal delo na delovnem mestu in je uporaben, kar deloma potrdi obe naši hipotezi. Srčni utrip se je pri osebah 1 in 2 zmanjšal, pri osebi 3 pa zvišal. Merjenje kotov rame in komolca je pokazalo, da eksoskelet ne posega v gibanje uporabnika, prav tako ga ne omejuje pri delu. Odgovori na oba vprašalnika pri vseh osebah so pokazali v prid eksoskeletom. Kljub pozitivnim rezultatom so se vsi merjenci iz različnih razlogov (premajhna motivacija in vzpodbuda, počutili so se neudobno ali pa niso delali na delovnem mestu, kjer smo eksoskelet preizkušali) odločili prenehati s preizkušanjem eksoskeleta.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: eksoskelet, testiranje, industrija, srčni utrip, NASA TLX
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Organization: FE - Faculty of Electrical Engineering
• Year: 2020
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-114809
• Publication date in RUL: 13.03.2020

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Evaluation of an exoskeleton in industrial environment

Abstract

With rising numbers of work related musculo-skeletal disorders, there is need to change and develop workplaces with ergonomics in mind. That means workplace is design in a way, that surrounding is adjusted to human in his movements. In a lot of cases that is not possible, so we have to use additional technology to achieve that goal. In our case we used exoskeleton. With representatives from Institute of Jožef Stefan, we tested exoskeleton PAEXO, made by company Ottobock. We tested it in company Revoz. PAEXO exoskeleton is device, which is made and designed for helping and ease the workload on overhead job. In first part of this thesis we introduce problem, what ergonomic is and how we help people with it. Then we represent exoskeleton and types of measurements we used in project. In second part we focused on project, where we describe project agenda, used measure equipment, hypotheses, goals and we represent results and findings. Measurement was done on three participants. First, we observed overhead work without wearing exoskeleton, then first week of wearing exoskeleton and after 20 days of wearing exoskeleton. On participants, we measured heart rate (perceived workload) and observed changes of shoulders and elbow angles (changes in movements). They also answered two questionnaires (Nasa TLX and acceptance questionnaire). Because we did not have enough participants, we present results of each separately. Purpose of testing was, to see if exoskeleton in useful in workplace like this and if it helps with execution of task and reduce workload. We wanted to confirm hypotheses with measurements. Results showed, that exoskeleton made task easier, it helped and was useful on our workplace, which confirm both our hypothesis. With 1 and 2 participant, heart rate was lower. With participant 3 was higher. Measurements of shoulders and elbow angles showed, that exoskeleton does not intervene with movements of user and it does not constrict user. Answers of both questionnaires showed, that all participants liked exoskeleton and thought it was useful. Despite positive results, all three participants decided to finish testing exoskeleton (reasons were different: not feeling comfortable wearing exoskeleton, lacking motivation or they simply did not work on working place, where we tested the exoskeleton).

• Keywords: exoskeleton, testing, industry, heart rate, NASA TLX