Industrial exoskeletons from bench to field: Human-machine interface and user experience in occupational settings and tasks

Antonio Baldassarre; Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli; Filippo Cavallo; Laura Fiorini; Antonella Mariniello; Nicola Mucci; Giulio Arcangeli

doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.1039680

Industrial exoskeletons from bench to field: Human-machine interface and user experience in occupational settings and tasks

Front Public Health. 2022 Nov 21:10:1039680. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1039680. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Antonio Baldassarre¹, Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli¹, Filippo Cavallo², Laura Fiorini², Antonella Mariniello³, Nicola Mucci¹, Giulio Arcangeli¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
² Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
³ School of Occupational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Abstract

Objective: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are considered nowadays the most serious issue in the Occupational Health and Safety field and industrial exoskeletons appear to be a new approach to addressing this medical burden. A systematic review has been carried out to analyze the real-life data of the application of exoskeletons in work settings considering the subjective responses of workers.

Methods: The review was registered on PROSPERO. The literature search and its report have been performed following the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus.

Results: Twenty-four original studies were included in the literature review; 42% of the papers retrieved included automobilist industry workers, 17% of the studies evaluated the use of exoskeletons in logistic facilities, and 17% of articles involved healthcare. The remaining six papers recruited farmers, plasterers, wasting collectors, construction workers, and other workmen. All the papers selected tested the use of passive exoskeletons, supporting upper arms or back. Usability, perceived comfort, perceived exertion and fatigue, acceptability and intention to use, occupational safety and health, and job performance and productivity were the main topic analyzed.

Conclusion: Exoskeletons are not a fix-all technology, neither for workers nor for job tasks; they tend to show more of their potential in static activities, while in dynamic tasks, they can obstacle regular job performance. Comfort and easiness of use are the key factors influencing the user's experience. More research is needed to determine the most effective and safe ways to implement exoskeleton use in occupational settings.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=275728, identifier CRD42021275728.

Keywords: Human-Robot Cooperation; ergonomics; industrial exoskeleton; occupational medicine; occupational safety and health (OSH); personal protection equipment (PPE); user experience; work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Publication types

Systematic Review