Development of simulator for manufacturing system to flexibly suit aged workers' skill and health

本研究旨在开发一个制造系统模拟器，以预先评估老年工人的工作量和生产率。首先，改进了传统数字人体模型的评价方法。其次，通过实验确定了技能与健康的评价标准。研究结果如下：1.已经开发了三种评价方法来补充数字人模型“杰克”的评价功能。它们被用于评估与三维CG构建的虚拟工作世界中的工人和工作环境之间的适应性。它们是：（1）人体重心的稳定性评估（2）可视性评估，包括四个标准：“不可见”、“观看可见”、“瞬间可见”、“容易可见”（3）上肢疼痛评估，基于肢体高度和工作时关节周围的扭矩2。已经开发了两种测量下肢肿胀的方法。站立时肿胀度的测量结果显示，肿胀度与疲劳程度之间存在显著相关性，站立时运动可使肿胀度降低.通过实验研究了技术技能的掌握与生理变化的关系。随着技能的掌握，其生理特征趋于稳定.开发了老年人特征的数据库和GUI以及能够包含老年或女性工人因素的制造系统模拟器。研究结果为设计制造系统以灵活适应老年工人的技能和健康的概念提供了许多启示。

The purpose of the study is to develop a simulator for manufacturing system to evaluate workload and productivity of aged workers in advance. First, evaluation methods included into conventional Digital Human Models were improved. Secondly, some experiments were carried out to determine the evaluation criteria for the skill and health. The results are as follows :1. Three evaluation methods have been developed to supplement the evaluation functions of the Digital Human Model "Jack". They are used for the assessment of fitness between the workers and working surroundings in virtual working world constructed with 3D-CG. They are as follows;(1) Stability assessment for center of gravity of human body(2) Visibility assessment with four criteria; "invisible", "visible by watching", "visible in a moment", "easily visible"(3) Painfulness assessment for upper limb based on height of the limb and torques about the joints during working2. Two methods for measuring swelling of the lower extremities have been developed. The measurements of the swelling during upright standing showed that significant correlation between the swelling and fatigue tiredness was estimated, and the swelling went down due to movement during standing.3. Experiments for investigating the relation between mastering of technical skill and physiological change were carried out. As a result the physiological characteristics became stable as the skill was mastered.4. A database and a GUI for characteristics of aged people and a simulator for manufacturing system enabling to include the factors of aged or women's workers have been developed.The results of the study give many hints to the concept for designing manufacturing system to flexibly suit aged workers' skill and health.