A New Materials Handling System to Prevent Back Injuries

小行星9322807 本研究调查使用的扩展器，以支持材料处理功能的情况下，举重工人参与。 伸缩器是由计算机控制的材料处理装置，工人佩戴该装置以在工作场所操纵负载，以最小化工人感觉到的重量强度和要求水平。 据推测，这些设备，当工人穿着操纵负载，防止背部受伤。 该研究包括分析所需的演习，以解除，移动和转移负载，量化的工人，生理特性方面的性能的扩展器，设计一个轻量级的电磁致动器，表现得像希尔的模型的扩展器，并开发自适应控制规则，这将防止人类引起的不稳定性在人类手臂动力学的变化存在。 这项研究的重点是提供一个解决方案，一个真实的和实际的问题，是在我们的经济各个部门的感觉。 如果研究目标得以实现，其结果将对成本节约产生重大影响，特别是在那些工人需要大量举重的经济工业部门。 每年的成本和生产力损失，由于背部受伤的情况下，在工业是惊人的。 这项研究确实提供了一些潜力，以尽量减少这些损失，改善员工的工作条件和士气。

9322807 Kazerooni This research investigates the use of extenders to support material handling functions in situations where weight lifting by workers is involved. Extenders are computer-controlled material handling device that are worn by workers to maneuver loads in work places to minimize the weight intensity and exaction level felt by the worker. It is hypothesized that these devices, when worn by workers to maneuver loads, do prevent back injuries. The research includes the analysis of maneuvers needed to lift, move, and transfer loads, quantify the performance of extenders in terms of workers, physiological characteristics, design a lightweight electromagnetic actuator that behaves like Hill's model of extenders, and develop adaptive control rules which will prevent human induced instability in the presence of variation in human arm dynamics. This research focuses on providing a solution to a real and practical problem that is felt in various sectors of our economy. If the research goals are realized, the outcome will have a significant impact on cost savings, especially in those industrial segments of the economy in which significant weight lifting by workers is involved. Annual cost and losses in productivity due to back injury cases in industry is staggering. This research does offer some potential to minimize these losses and improve employees' working conditions and morale.