Using a Back Exoskeleton During Industrial and Functional Tasks-Effects on Muscle Activity, Posture, Performance, Usability, and Wearer Discomfort in a Laboratory Trial

Tessy Luger, Mona Bär, Robert Seibt, Monika A Rieger, Benjamin Steinhilber, Tessy Luger, Mona Bär, Robert Seibt, Monika A Rieger, Benjamin Steinhilber

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of using a passive back-support exoskeleton (Laevo V2.56) on muscle activity, posture, heart rate, performance, usability, and wearer comfort during a course of three industrial tasks (COU; exoskeleton worn, turned-on), stair climbing test (SCT; exoskeleton worn, turned-off), timed-up-and-go test (TUG; exoskeleton worn, turned-off) compared to no exoskeleton.

Background: Back-support exoskeletons have the potential to reduce work-related physical demands.

Methods: Thirty-six men participated. Activity of erector spinae (ES), biceps femoris (BF), rectus abdominis (RA), vastus lateralis (VL), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), trapezius descendens (TD) was recorded by electromyography; posture by trunk, hip, knee flexion angles; heart rate by electrocardiography; performance by time-to-task accomplishment (s) and perceived task difficulty (100-mm visual analogue scale; VAS); usability by the System Usability Scale (SUS) and all items belonging to domains skepticism and user-friendliness of the Technology Usage Inventory; wearer comfort by the 100-mm VAS.

Results: During parts of COU, using the exoskeleton decreased ES and BF activity and trunk flexion, and increased RA, GM, and TD activity, knee and hip flexion. Wearing the exoskeleton increased time-to-task accomplishment of SCT, TUG, and COU and perceived difficulty of SCT and TUG. Average SUS was 75.4, skepticism 11.5/28.0, user-friendliness 18.0/21.0, wearer comfort 31.1 mm.

Conclusion: Using the exoskeleton modified muscle activity and posture depending on the task applied, slightly impaired performance, and was evaluated mildly uncomfortable.

Application: These outcomes require investigating the effects of this passive back-supporting exoskeleton in longitudinal studies with longer operating times, providing better insights for guiding their application in real work settings.

Keywords: assistive device; electromyography; ergonomics; kinematics; passive exoskeleton.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The three tasks as simulated during the course (COU) while using the Laevo. Pallet box lifting (upper left corner): the first set of four boxes was grabbed and lifted from 66 cm height; the second set of four boxes from 40 cm height. In the next round, the eight boxes were lifted back to the starting pallet. Fastening (lower left corner): the working height of and distance to the set-up were individually adjusted to ensure a trunk flexion angle of ~40°. The height of the metal bar was adjusted to be halfway between elbow height and shoulder height of the subject in the bent posture. Lattice box lifting (upper right corner): the subject stood 45 cm in front of the lattice box, and the table was positioned directly at their left-hand side. The first set of two boxes was lifted from the lattice box to the table (i.e., 80 cm); the second set of two boxes was lifted from the lattice box on top of the two boxes on the table (i.e., 114 cm). After placing the four boxes on the table, the subject placed them back into the lattice box. The COU is schematically displayed including walking pathways (lower right corner).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The Laevo V2.56 (Laevo B.V., Delft, The Netherlands; https://laevo-exoskeletons.com/manuals).

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