Digitalization of Musculoskeletal Risk Assessment in a Robotic-Assisted Assembly Workstation
The ergonomic assessment of adopted working postures is essential for avoiding musculoskeletal risk factors in manufacturing contexts. Several observational methods based on external analyst observations are available; however, they are relatively subjective and suffer low repeatability. Over the pa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Safety |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/7/4/74 |
| _version_ | 1797500946260951040 |
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| author | Ana Colim André Cardoso Pedro Arezes Ana Cristina Braga Ana Carolina Peixoto Vítor Peixoto Felix Wolbert Paula Carneiro Nélson Costa Nuno Sousa |
| author_facet | Ana Colim André Cardoso Pedro Arezes Ana Cristina Braga Ana Carolina Peixoto Vítor Peixoto Felix Wolbert Paula Carneiro Nélson Costa Nuno Sousa |
| author_sort | Ana Colim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ergonomic assessment of adopted working postures is essential for avoiding musculoskeletal risk factors in manufacturing contexts. Several observational methods based on external analyst observations are available; however, they are relatively subjective and suffer low repeatability. Over the past decade, the digitalization of this assessment has received high research interest. Robotic applications have the potential to lighten workers’ workload and improve working conditions. Therefore, this work presents a musculoskeletal risk assessment before and after robotic implementation in an assembly workstation. We also emphasize the importance of using novel and non-intrusive technologies for musculoskeletal risk assessment. A kinematic study was conducted using inertial motion units (IMU) in a convenience sample of two workers during their normal performance of assembly work cycles. The musculoskeletal risk was estimated according to a semi-automated solution, called the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) report. Based on previous musculoskeletal problems reported by the company, the assessment centered on the kinematic analysis of functional wrist movements (flexion/extension, ulnar/radial deviation, and pronation/supination). The results of the RULA report showed a reduction in musculoskeletal risk using robotic-assisted assembly. Regarding the kinematic analysis of the wrist during robotic-assisted tasks, a significant posture improvement of 20–45% was registered (considering the angular deviations relative to the neutral wrist position). The results obtained by direct measurements simultaneously reflect the workload and individual characteristics. The current study highlights the importance of an in-field instrumented assessment of musculoskeletal risk and the limitations of the system applied (e.g., unsuitable for tracking the motion of small joints, such as the fingers). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:11:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb12e1af91ed429e8a39545ac208b985 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2313-576X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:11:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb12e1af91ed429e8a39545ac208b9852023-11-23T10:27:08ZengMDPI AGSafety2313-576X2021-10-01747410.3390/safety7040074Digitalization of Musculoskeletal Risk Assessment in a Robotic-Assisted Assembly WorkstationAna Colim0André Cardoso1Pedro Arezes2Ana Cristina Braga3Ana Carolina Peixoto4Vítor Peixoto5Felix Wolbert6Paula Carneiro7Nélson Costa8Nuno Sousa9DTx Colab and Algoritmi Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalAlgoritmi Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalAlgoritmi Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalAlgoritmi Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalProduction and Systems Department, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalProduction and Systems Department, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalInstitute of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, DenmarkAlgoritmi Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalAlgoritmi Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalAlgoritmi Centre, School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalThe ergonomic assessment of adopted working postures is essential for avoiding musculoskeletal risk factors in manufacturing contexts. Several observational methods based on external analyst observations are available; however, they are relatively subjective and suffer low repeatability. Over the past decade, the digitalization of this assessment has received high research interest. Robotic applications have the potential to lighten workers’ workload and improve working conditions. Therefore, this work presents a musculoskeletal risk assessment before and after robotic implementation in an assembly workstation. We also emphasize the importance of using novel and non-intrusive technologies for musculoskeletal risk assessment. A kinematic study was conducted using inertial motion units (IMU) in a convenience sample of two workers during their normal performance of assembly work cycles. The musculoskeletal risk was estimated according to a semi-automated solution, called the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) report. Based on previous musculoskeletal problems reported by the company, the assessment centered on the kinematic analysis of functional wrist movements (flexion/extension, ulnar/radial deviation, and pronation/supination). The results of the RULA report showed a reduction in musculoskeletal risk using robotic-assisted assembly. Regarding the kinematic analysis of the wrist during robotic-assisted tasks, a significant posture improvement of 20–45% was registered (considering the angular deviations relative to the neutral wrist position). The results obtained by direct measurements simultaneously reflect the workload and individual characteristics. The current study highlights the importance of an in-field instrumented assessment of musculoskeletal risk and the limitations of the system applied (e.g., unsuitable for tracking the motion of small joints, such as the fingers).https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/7/4/74kinematic analysisergonomics and human factorsmusculoskeletal riskindustrial manufacturing |
| spellingShingle | Ana Colim André Cardoso Pedro Arezes Ana Cristina Braga Ana Carolina Peixoto Vítor Peixoto Felix Wolbert Paula Carneiro Nélson Costa Nuno Sousa Digitalization of Musculoskeletal Risk Assessment in a Robotic-Assisted Assembly Workstation Safety kinematic analysis ergonomics and human factors musculoskeletal risk industrial manufacturing |
| title | Digitalization of Musculoskeletal Risk Assessment in a Robotic-Assisted Assembly Workstation |
| title_full | Digitalization of Musculoskeletal Risk Assessment in a Robotic-Assisted Assembly Workstation |
| title_fullStr | Digitalization of Musculoskeletal Risk Assessment in a Robotic-Assisted Assembly Workstation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digitalization of Musculoskeletal Risk Assessment in a Robotic-Assisted Assembly Workstation |
| title_short | Digitalization of Musculoskeletal Risk Assessment in a Robotic-Assisted Assembly Workstation |
| title_sort | digitalization of musculoskeletal risk assessment in a robotic assisted assembly workstation |
| topic | kinematic analysis ergonomics and human factors musculoskeletal risk industrial manufacturing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/7/4/74 |
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