Development of an Integrated Virtual Reality System with Wearable Sensors for Ergonomic Evaluation of Human–Robot Cooperative Workplaces
This work proposes a novel virtual reality system which makes use of wearable sensors for testing and validation of cooperative workplaces from the ergonomic point of view. The main objective is to show, in real time, the ergonomic evaluation based on a muscular activity analysis within the immersiv...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-03-01
|
| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/6/2413 |
| _version_ | 1797442267227619328 |
|---|---|
| author | Teodorico Caporaso Stanislao Grazioso Giuseppe Di Gironimo |
| author_facet | Teodorico Caporaso Stanislao Grazioso Giuseppe Di Gironimo |
| author_sort | Teodorico Caporaso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This work proposes a novel virtual reality system which makes use of wearable sensors for testing and validation of cooperative workplaces from the ergonomic point of view. The main objective is to show, in real time, the ergonomic evaluation based on a muscular activity analysis within the immersive virtual environment. The system comprises the following key elements: a robotic simulator for modeling the robot and the working environment; virtual reality devices for human immersion and interaction within the simulated environment; five surface electromyographic sensors; and one uniaxial accelerometer for measuring the human ergonomic status. The methodology comprises the following steps: firstly, the virtual environment is constructed with an associated immersive tutorial for the worker; secondly, an ergonomic toolbox is developed for muscular analysis. This analysis involves multiple ergonomic outputs: root mean square for each muscle, a global electromyographic score, and a synthetic index. They are all visualized in the immersive environment during the execution of the task. To test this methodology, experimental trials are conducted on a real use case in a human–robot cooperative workplace typical of the automotive industry. The results showed that the methodology can effectively be applied in the analysis of human–robot interaction, to endow the workers with self–awareness with respect to their physical conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:39:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f018e5f7a8ba4e22b358088aa74cb862 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T12:39:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-f018e5f7a8ba4e22b358088aa74cb8622023-11-30T22:21:01ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-03-01226241310.3390/s22062413Development of an Integrated Virtual Reality System with Wearable Sensors for Ergonomic Evaluation of Human–Robot Cooperative WorkplacesTeodorico Caporaso0Stanislao Grazioso1Giuseppe Di Gironimo2Fraunhofer Joint Lab IDEAS, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, ItalyFraunhofer Joint Lab IDEAS, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, ItalyFraunhofer Joint Lab IDEAS, Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, ItalyThis work proposes a novel virtual reality system which makes use of wearable sensors for testing and validation of cooperative workplaces from the ergonomic point of view. The main objective is to show, in real time, the ergonomic evaluation based on a muscular activity analysis within the immersive virtual environment. The system comprises the following key elements: a robotic simulator for modeling the robot and the working environment; virtual reality devices for human immersion and interaction within the simulated environment; five surface electromyographic sensors; and one uniaxial accelerometer for measuring the human ergonomic status. The methodology comprises the following steps: firstly, the virtual environment is constructed with an associated immersive tutorial for the worker; secondly, an ergonomic toolbox is developed for muscular analysis. This analysis involves multiple ergonomic outputs: root mean square for each muscle, a global electromyographic score, and a synthetic index. They are all visualized in the immersive environment during the execution of the task. To test this methodology, experimental trials are conducted on a real use case in a human–robot cooperative workplace typical of the automotive industry. The results showed that the methodology can effectively be applied in the analysis of human–robot interaction, to endow the workers with self–awareness with respect to their physical conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/6/2413virtual realitywearable sensorsergonomic analysiscooperative workplacehuman–robot physical interaction |
| spellingShingle | Teodorico Caporaso Stanislao Grazioso Giuseppe Di Gironimo Development of an Integrated Virtual Reality System with Wearable Sensors for Ergonomic Evaluation of Human–Robot Cooperative Workplaces Sensors virtual reality wearable sensors ergonomic analysis cooperative workplace human–robot physical interaction |
| title | Development of an Integrated Virtual Reality System with Wearable Sensors for Ergonomic Evaluation of Human–Robot Cooperative Workplaces |
| title_full | Development of an Integrated Virtual Reality System with Wearable Sensors for Ergonomic Evaluation of Human–Robot Cooperative Workplaces |
| title_fullStr | Development of an Integrated Virtual Reality System with Wearable Sensors for Ergonomic Evaluation of Human–Robot Cooperative Workplaces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of an Integrated Virtual Reality System with Wearable Sensors for Ergonomic Evaluation of Human–Robot Cooperative Workplaces |
| title_short | Development of an Integrated Virtual Reality System with Wearable Sensors for Ergonomic Evaluation of Human–Robot Cooperative Workplaces |
| title_sort | development of an integrated virtual reality system with wearable sensors for ergonomic evaluation of human robot cooperative workplaces |
| topic | virtual reality wearable sensors ergonomic analysis cooperative workplace human–robot physical interaction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/6/2413 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT teodoricocaporaso developmentofanintegratedvirtualrealitysystemwithwearablesensorsforergonomicevaluationofhumanrobotcooperativeworkplaces AT stanislaograzioso developmentofanintegratedvirtualrealitysystemwithwearablesensorsforergonomicevaluationofhumanrobotcooperativeworkplaces AT giuseppedigironimo developmentofanintegratedvirtualrealitysystemwithwearablesensorsforergonomicevaluationofhumanrobotcooperativeworkplaces |