A comparative study to explore the advantages of passive exoskeletons by monitoring the muscle activity of workers

Manufacturing and construction workers undertake physically strenuous activities increasing the risk of health problems, disability, and sick leave, leading to lower job attractiveness and job candidate scarcity. In the EU, up to 44 million workers are affected by workplace-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), representing a total annual cost of more than €240 billion. Exoskeleton use could alleviate muscle peak loads and reduce the risks of injury of workers. This work is related to the INTERREG's project "EXSCALLERATE" which aimed to accelerate the adoption of exoskeletons among SMEs. This research presents a comparative study of using exoskeletons by workers while performing different tasks related to their job. The tests evaluate the advantages of using exoskeletons in reducing human muscle activity, thereby, reducing the fatigue and tiredness. The study uses two commercially available exoskeletons, (1) upper body exoskeleton known as Eksovest and (2) lower body exoskeleton known as LegX. For upper body, the study performed drilling tasks at shoulder height and roof drilling positions, whereas, for the lower body, virtual chair position and squatting positions are tested which involved frequent bending of knees. Besides, the experiments based on accuracies of the data collection techniques and compare three volunteer’s body muscle data acquired by EMG sensor. From these comparisons, it is found that the muscle activity can be reduced up to 60% by using these exoskeletons, hence, increasing the work life of the workforce. The results of this study will help create awareness among SMEs towards the adoption of exoskeletons