Presentation
83. The Effects of Soft and Rigid Back Support Exoskeletons on Muscle Activity and User Perception During Simulated Automotive Assembly
SessionPoster Session 2
DescriptionMost prior work on back-support exoskeletons has focused on simplistic tasks that may not replicate real-world scenarios. This study explored the effectiveness of BSEs in a realistic simulation of automotive assembly: eighteen participants performed a 20-minute task battery without an exoskeleton, when using a passive rigid BSE, and a passive soft exosuit. Three specific tasks were analyzed here: installing an 8.6kg car mat, installing a 5.4Kg dash panel, and connecting cables, inside the vehicle. As expected, both exoskeletons reduced the trunk extensor muscle activity across all tasks. However, participants reported higher perceived exertion and high perceived discomfort in the back, when using both exoskeletons compared to control, particularly in the car mat and dash panel installations. Thus, despite objective biomechanical benefits, participants did not perceive clear benefits from exoskeletons during these complex tasks. This highlights the importance of integrating subjective perceptions with objective measures when evaluating exoskeletons in real-world applications.
Event Type
Poster
TimeThursday, September 12th5:30pm - 6:30pm MST
LocationMcArthur Ballroom
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