Name
Title | ||
|---|---|---|
Assessing the Ability of a VR-Based Assembly Task Simulation to Evaluate PhysicalRisk Factors |
Abstract | ||
|---|---|---|
Nowadays the process of workstation design tends to include assessment steps in a virtual environment (VE) to evaluate the ergonomic features. These approaches are cost-effective and convenient since working directly on the digital mock-up in a VE is preferable to constructing a real physical mock-up in a real environment (RE). This study aimed at understanding the ability of a VR-based assembly tasks simulator to evaluate physical risk factors in ergonomics. Sixteen subjects performed simplified assembly tasks in RE and VE. Motion of the upper body and five muscle electromyographic activities were recorded to compute normalized and averaged objective indicators of discomfort, that is, rapid upper limb assessment score, averaged muscle activations, and total task time. Rated perceived exertion (RPE) and a questionnaire were used as subjective indicators of discomfort. The timing regime and complexity of the assembly tasks were investigated as within-subject factors. The results revealed significant differences between measured indicators in RE and VE. While objective measures indicated lower activity and exposure in VE, the subjects experienced more discomfort than in RE. Fairly good correlation levels were found between RE and VE for six of the objective indicators. This study clearly demonstrates that ergonomic studies of assembly tasks using VR are still challenging. Indeed, objective and subjective measurements of discomfort that are usually used in ergonomics to minimize the risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders development exhibit opposite trends in RE and VE. Nevertheless, the high level of correlation found during this study indicates that the VR-based simulator can be used for such assessments. |
Year | DOI | Venue |
|---|---|---|
2014 | 10.1109/TVCG.2013.252 | Visualization and Computer Graphics, IEEE Transactions |
Keywords | Field | DocType |
bone,digital simulation,electromyography,ergonomics,medical computing,medical disorders,muscle,occupational health,virtual reality,RE,VR-based assembly task simulation ability assessment,averaged muscle activations,averaged objective indicators,digital mock-up,discomfort measurements,ergonomic feature evaluation,muscle electromyographic activities,normalized objective indicators,physical risk factor evaluation,rapid upper limb assessment score,rated perceived exertion,real environment,real physical mock-up,subjective discomfort indicators,total task time,upper body motion,virtual environment,work-related musculoskeletal disorder development risks,workstation design,Fidelity,assembly task,emg,ergonomics,motion capture,user study | Motion capture,Computer vision,Fidelity,Virtual reality,Computer science,Human factors and ergonomics,Electromyography,Correlation,Human–computer interaction,Rated Perceived Exertion,Artificial intelligence,Physical medicine and rehabilitation | Journal |
Volume | Issue | ISSN |
20 | 5 | 1077-2626 |
Citations | PageRank | References |
6 | 0.48 | 12 |
Authors | ||
4 | ||
Name | Order | Citations | PageRank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Pontonnier | 1 | 27 | 5.02 |
| Afshin Samani | 2 | 7 | 1.96 |
| Badawi, M. | 3 | 6 | 0.48 |
| Pascal Madeleine | 4 | 18 | 4.30 |