A Musculoskeletal Human Model-Based Approach for Evaluating Support Concepts of Exoskeletons for Selected Use Cases

DS 116: Proceedings of the DESIGN2022 17th International Design Conference

Year: 2022
Editor: Mario Štorga, Stanko Škec, Tomislav Martinec, Dorian Marjanović
Author: Carla Molz (1), Zhejun Yao (2), Johannes S
Series: DESIGN
Institution: 1: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; 2: Helmut Schmidt University, Germany; 3: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany; 4: University of Innsbruck, Austria
Section: Design Support Tools and Methods
Page(s): 515-524
DOI number: https://doi.org/10.1017/pds.2022.53
ISSN: 2732-527X (Online)

Abstract

This paper presents an approach for evaluating exoskeleton support concepts through biomechanical analyses on a musculoskeletal human model. By simplifying the support forces of an exoskeleton as external forces, different support concepts can be biomechanically evaluated for the respective use case without concrete design specifications of the exoskeleton. This enables an estimation of the resulting relief and strain on the human body in the early stages of exoskeleton development. To present the approach, the use case of working at and above head height with a power tool is chosen.

Keywords: user-centred design, design optimisation, supportive technologies, musculoskeletal human model, exoskeleton