Presentation
Biomechanical Effects of Powered vs. Passive Back-Support Exoskeletons in Static Tasks
SessionOE12: Exoskeletons IV
DescriptionThis study compared a rigid-powered exoskeleton (German Bionic Apogee) and soft-passive exosuit (Herowear Apex V2), both back-supporting, for reducing muscle activity in static tasks. Eight healthy adults were asked to hold their posture and lean forward at various heights (knee and ankle) and trunk rotations (0, 45, and 90 degrees) while keeping their feet fixed (50 cm away). Apogee (rigid-powered) significantly reduced trunk muscle activity (upto 35%), particularly for tasks requiring significant trunk flexion (e.g., ankle height). Apex (soft-passive) resulted in a 5 – 10% reduction in similar postures but was not statistically significant. Participants self-selected device assistance to be high with both, highlighting a preference for strong support. Perceived exertion and discomfort with exoskeletons remained low across all postures. These findings suggest promise for powered exoskeletons in reducing muscle load during static tasks. Further research is needed to explore their effectiveness in dynamic tasks and with larger participant groups.
Contributors
Assistant Professor
Professor
Event Type
Lecture
TimeFriday, September 13th8:30am - 9am MST
LocationFLW Salon H
Occupational Ergonomics