Development of Shoulder Muscle-Assistive Wearable Device for Work in Unstructured Postures
The present study describes the development of a wearable device designed to assist those who work in an unstructured posture. In the manufacturing sector, industrial accidents have been steadily on the rise due to poor work environments and excessive workloads imposed on workers. Against this backd...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Machines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/11/2/258 |
| _version_ | 1797619739339522048 |
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| author | Kwang-Woo Jeon Hyun-Joon Chung Eui-Jung Jung Jeon-Seong Kang So-Eun Son Hak Yi |
| author_facet | Kwang-Woo Jeon Hyun-Joon Chung Eui-Jung Jung Jeon-Seong Kang So-Eun Son Hak Yi |
| author_sort | Kwang-Woo Jeon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present study describes the development of a wearable device designed to assist those who work in an unstructured posture. In the manufacturing sector, industrial accidents have been steadily on the rise due to poor work environments and excessive workloads imposed on workers. Against this backdrop, the present study aimed to analyze various types of work, especially those performed in unstructured postures by heavy industry workers, who are frequently exposed to high workloads and poor work environments. Based on the analysis results, an attempt was made to develop a shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device capable of assisting a wearer who is working using their shoulder muscles. Various types of unstructured posture work are performed in heavy industries, including activities such as the welding and grinding of ship components and plant structures. They are typically conducted in narrow spaces with limited postures, causing many workers to suffer muscle fatigue. In the present study, as the first step of developing a shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device, different working scenarios were simulated, and the corresponding motion data and required torque values were estimated using motion capture devices. The obtained motion data and required torque values were reflected in the design of the wearable device. The main structural body of the shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device was made of a carbon fiber-reinforced composite to be lightweight. This shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device was designed to fully cover the range of motion for workers working in unstructured postures while generating the torque required for a given job, thereby enhancing the muscular endurance of the workers. The gravity compensation module of the designed shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device generates a support force of 4.47 Nm per shoulder. The shoulder muscle assistive wearable device was developed to provide support for approximately 30% of the shoulder joint’s maximum torque generated in overhead tasks. This shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device is expected to contribute to improving the productivity of field workers, while reducing the occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries arising from the aging of the working-age population. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:31:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1844cd23f846402a9a60130437b5d516 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1702 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:31:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Machines |
| spelling | doaj.art-1844cd23f846402a9a60130437b5d5162023-11-16T21:46:05ZengMDPI AGMachines2075-17022023-02-0111225810.3390/machines11020258Development of Shoulder Muscle-Assistive Wearable Device for Work in Unstructured PosturesKwang-Woo Jeon0Hyun-Joon Chung1Eui-Jung Jung2Jeon-Seong Kang3So-Eun Son4Hak Yi5Korea Institute of Robotics and Technology Convergence, Pohang 37666, Republic of KoreaKorea Institute of Robotics and Technology Convergence, Pohang 37666, Republic of KoreaKorea Institute of Robotics and Technology Convergence, Pohang 37666, Republic of KoreaKorea Institute of Robotics and Technology Convergence, Pohang 37666, Republic of KoreaKorea Institute of Robotics and Technology Convergence, Pohang 37666, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Deagu 41566, Republic of KoreaThe present study describes the development of a wearable device designed to assist those who work in an unstructured posture. In the manufacturing sector, industrial accidents have been steadily on the rise due to poor work environments and excessive workloads imposed on workers. Against this backdrop, the present study aimed to analyze various types of work, especially those performed in unstructured postures by heavy industry workers, who are frequently exposed to high workloads and poor work environments. Based on the analysis results, an attempt was made to develop a shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device capable of assisting a wearer who is working using their shoulder muscles. Various types of unstructured posture work are performed in heavy industries, including activities such as the welding and grinding of ship components and plant structures. They are typically conducted in narrow spaces with limited postures, causing many workers to suffer muscle fatigue. In the present study, as the first step of developing a shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device, different working scenarios were simulated, and the corresponding motion data and required torque values were estimated using motion capture devices. The obtained motion data and required torque values were reflected in the design of the wearable device. The main structural body of the shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device was made of a carbon fiber-reinforced composite to be lightweight. This shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device was designed to fully cover the range of motion for workers working in unstructured postures while generating the torque required for a given job, thereby enhancing the muscular endurance of the workers. The gravity compensation module of the designed shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device generates a support force of 4.47 Nm per shoulder. The shoulder muscle assistive wearable device was developed to provide support for approximately 30% of the shoulder joint’s maximum torque generated in overhead tasks. This shoulder muscle-assistive wearable device is expected to contribute to improving the productivity of field workers, while reducing the occurrence of musculoskeletal injuries arising from the aging of the working-age population.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/11/2/258wearable deviceshoulder muscle assistancegravity compensationmotion analysislightweight system |
| spellingShingle | Kwang-Woo Jeon Hyun-Joon Chung Eui-Jung Jung Jeon-Seong Kang So-Eun Son Hak Yi Development of Shoulder Muscle-Assistive Wearable Device for Work in Unstructured Postures Machines wearable device shoulder muscle assistance gravity compensation motion analysis lightweight system |
| title | Development of Shoulder Muscle-Assistive Wearable Device for Work in Unstructured Postures |
| title_full | Development of Shoulder Muscle-Assistive Wearable Device for Work in Unstructured Postures |
| title_fullStr | Development of Shoulder Muscle-Assistive Wearable Device for Work in Unstructured Postures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of Shoulder Muscle-Assistive Wearable Device for Work in Unstructured Postures |
| title_short | Development of Shoulder Muscle-Assistive Wearable Device for Work in Unstructured Postures |
| title_sort | development of shoulder muscle assistive wearable device for work in unstructured postures |
| topic | wearable device shoulder muscle assistance gravity compensation motion analysis lightweight system |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/11/2/258 |
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