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Examining Simulated Agricultural Tasks Using an Arm-Support Exoskeleton

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Artificial Intelligence in HCI (HCII 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 14050))

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Abstract

Agricultural work requires physical labor and often entails repetitive movements of the upper extremities, which can result in musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of utilizing an arm-support exoskeleton (ASE) on physical demands and task performance in simulated agricultural conditions. A group of 21 participants used a commercial arm-support exoskeleton to carry out brief simulated agricultural tasks at different height conditions, and the following outcomes were measured: muscle activity (%MVC) of the upper body muscles, task completion time, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). The results indicated that while the use of the ASE significantly reduced shoulder muscle activity at the shoulder and overhead work heights, participants spent more time performing the tasks and perceived higher exertion levels. In conclusion, ASE use has the potential as a new intervention for tasks that require arm elevation. Nevertheless, additional research is necessary to fully understand the benefits and limitations of this technology in the agricultural industry.

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Acknowledgments

This work was carried out with the support of “Cooperative Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Project No. PJ01709902)” Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Incheon National University (INU), Incheon, Republic of Korea

    Byungkyu Choi & Jaehyun Park

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  1. Byungkyu Choi
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  2. Jaehyun Park
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Correspondence to Jaehyun Park .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Siemens Corporation, Princeton, NJ, USA

    Helmut Degen

  2. Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Stavroula Ntoa

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Choi, B., Park, J. (2023). Examining Simulated Agricultural Tasks Using an Arm-Support Exoskeleton. In: Degen, H., Ntoa, S. (eds) Artificial Intelligence in HCI. HCII 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 14050. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35891-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35891-3_2

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