NRI: Small: Reducing Trunk Musculoskeletal Forces During Manual Work

该奖项的研究目标是为外骨骼系统的设计开发一套先进的工程原理，以减少人在各种工作场所执行各种繁重任务时的内部肌肉骨骼力量和氧气消耗。假设这些系统将降低与工作相关的背部受伤的严重程度和数量，同时提高汽车组装厂和配送中心的工人安全。当设备和人之间的能量和信息流决定设备的整体功能和性能时，研究方法从探索人机交互开始。利用人机交互中各种元素的动力学模型，将为外骨骼开发被动阻抗和致动器。将进行一系列实验，以量化外骨骼系统对人体躯干在矢状面、额面和绕脊柱旋转的影响。如果成功，这里提出的技术将体现在为在工厂、仓库和配送中心反复移动物体的工人开发广泛类别的外骨骼设备。该项目将产生一套工程原则，以降低由于配送中心和汽车组装厂的重复操作而造成的伤害风险。该项目将进一步为工人提供负担得起的援助系统，并改善工人的生活质量。这项研究的教育影响来自于拟议的将教育与研究相结合的协调努力。工程专业的研究生和本科生将从参与研究中受益。该研究项目中开发的原型将丰富学习与人类交互的辅助设备的设计、建模和控制的教育平台。

The research objective of this award is to develop a set of advanced engineering principles for design of the exoskeleton systems that reduce the internal musculoskeletal forces and oxygen consumption in a person during a variety of laborious tasks in various workplaces. The hypothesis is that these systems will decrease the severity and number of work-related back injuries while enhancing worker safety in automobile assembly plants and distribution centers. The research approach progresses from the exploration of the human-machine interaction when both the flow of power and information between the device and human dictate the overall functionality and performance of the device. Employing the dynamic models of various elements in this human-machine interaction, passive impedances and actuators will be developed for the exoskeletons. A set of experiments will be conducted to quantify the effect of the exoskeleton system on human trunk in sagittal plane, in frontal plane, and rotation around the spine. If successful, the technologies proposed here will manifest in the development of broad classes of exoskeleton devices for workers who repeatedly move objects in factories, warehouses and distribution centers. This project will yield a set of engineering principles that decrease the risk of injuries due to repetitive maneuvers in distribution centers and in auto assembly plants. This project further will increase the availability of affordable assist systems for workers and improve the quality of life for workers. The educational impact of this research is derived from the proposed concerted effort to integrate education with research. Graduate and undergraduate engineering students will benefit through involvement in the research. The prototypes developed in this research project will enrich educational platforms for the study of design, modeling, and control of assist devices interacting with humans.