BRIGE: Optimization-Based Prediction of Seated Posture in Pregnant Women

0926549杨项目概要：本项目将调查孕妇的体形和体型改变对她们坐姿的影响。这些效果将通过开发数字人类环境来模拟。该人体模拟环境的基础将是基于诱导优化的姿势预测模型。将开发一套简单的基于网络的模型，并将其与实验室练习结合起来，用于为得克萨斯理工大学妇女研究辅修专业设计的大一课程，目的是吸引女学生学习工程学科。PI将与德克萨斯理工大学跨文化学术促进中心合作，在PI的实验室（以人为本的设计研究实验室）为美国原住民夏桥研究所（NASBI）举办夏季研讨会。在这个教育模块中提出的为期一周的夏季研讨会将侧重于基于计算机的数字人类建模和模拟从工程的角度来看，以吸引美洲原住民攻读工程学位。智力优势：该研究旨在为调查孕妇的坐姿提供科学依据，并开发一种独特的基于优化的模型来预测孕妇的坐姿。数字人体建模和仿真彻底改变了新产品的设计、构建、操作和维护方式。预期的好处包括提高质量和减少产品开发时间和成本。在怀孕期间，女性的身体会发生重大的身体变化，这可能会影响她在车辆和工作场所的安全。有许多建模和仿真软件包，包括JACK，RAMSIS，SAFEWORK，ANYBODY等，具有姿态预测功能。但是，这些方案都没有考虑到孕妇的需要。此外，目前可用的包是基于经验数据或模型的自由度（DOF）。该项目将开发一种新的基于优化的模型，该模型具有显著的优点：1）不需要预先记录的数据; 2）人体模型可以对无限多个场景做出反应; 3）计算效率高的方法允许实时操作; 4）当使用大量自由度时，不会对操作速度造成影响;以及5）通过在优化问题中结合附加的约束，可以容易地实现附加的功能，例如障碍物回避、多个末端执行器（脚、手和头）的操纵、或各种身体部分的定向的规定。该研究解决了以下问题：1）与怀孕相关的变化如何影响女性的坐姿; 2）坐在工作站的孕妇的下背部生物力学负荷是什么; 3）与怀孕乘客的布局设计相关的风险是什么;以及4）可以进行哪些设计改进以允许舒适的姿势？更广泛的影响：拟议的工作在一个潜在的广泛的领域，如（i）在病态肥胖的姿势建模;（ii）设计汽车/飞机内饰，以更好地适应孕妇的需求;和（iii）修改定期工作站设计孕妇。该项目将通过开发创新课程和推广计划，使科学和工程对代表性不足的群体更具包容性。为了实现这一目标，一系列简单的基于网络的模型将通过基于实验的实验室练习来增强学生的课堂教学。这些模型将专门为德克萨斯理工大学妇女研究未成年人的学生设计，以吸引女性从事工程职业。一个夏季讲习班将在PI的实验室开发的美洲土著夏桥研究所在得克萨斯理工大学针对美洲土著高中学生。德克萨斯理工大学于2008年开始举办年度NASBI。该计划邀请大约40名美国原住民高中学生和他们的父母参加活动，向他们介绍学术课程，校园活动，文化探索和大学生活。拟议的研讨会将展示数字人体建模和仿真的进步和优势。工程研究的积极招募将在研究小组的充分参与下在本次活动期间进行。

0926549YangProject Summary: This project will investigate the effects of pregnant women's altered shape and size on their seated posture. The effects will be simulated by developing a digital human environment. The foundation of this human simulation environment will be an induced optimization-based posture prediction model. A suite of simple web-based models will be developed and combined with experimental laboratory exercises for use in a freshman course designed for the Women's Studies minor at Texas Tech University, with the goal of attracting women students to the engineering disciplines. The PI will collaborate with the Cross Cultural Academic Advancement Center, Texas Tech University to develop a summer workshop at the PI's lab (Human-Centric Design Research Laboratory) for the Native American Summer Bridge Institute (NASBI). The week-long summer workshop proposed in this education module will focus on computer-based digital human modeling and simulation from an engineering point of view in order to attract Native Americans to pursue degrees in engineering. Intellectual Merit: The proposed research seeks to provide a scientific foundation for investigating the seated posture of pregnant women and to develop a unique optimization-based model for the prediction of seated posture in pregnant women. Digital human modeling and simulation has revolutionized the way new products are designed, built, operated, and maintained. Expected benefits include improved quality and the reduction of product development time and costs. During pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes significant physical changes that can impact her safety in vehicles and workstations. There are a number of modeling and simulation packages including JACK, RAMSIS, SAFEWORK, ANYBODY, etc. with posture prediction capabilities. However, none of them has incorporated the needs of pregnant women. Moreover, currently available packages are either based on empirical data or model few degrees of freedom (DOF). This project will develop a new optimization-based model that yields significant advantages: 1) no prerecorded data is required; 2) the human model can react to infinitely many scenarios; 3) a computationally efficient approach permits real-time operation; 4) there is no penalty to the speed of operation when a large number of DOFs are used; and 5) added functionality, such as obstacle avoidance, manipulation of multiple end-effectors (feet, hands, and head), or stipulation of orientation for various body segments, is easily achieved by incorporating additional constraints in the optimization problem. The research addresses the following questions: 1) how do changes associated with pregnancy affect women's seated posture; 2) what are the low-back biomechanical loads for pregnant women sitting at a workstation; 3) what are the risks related to layout design for pregnant occupants; and 4) what design improvements can be made to permit comfortable posture? Broader Impacts: The proposed work has ramifications in a potentially broad range of areas, such as (i) modeling posture in the morbidly obese; (ii) designing automobile/airplane interiors to better accommodate the needs of pregnant women; and (iii) modifying regular workstation design for pregnant women. This project will create ways to make science and engineering more inclusive to underrepresented groups through the development of an innovative course and outreach program. To achieve this goal, a family of simple web-based models will augment students' classroom instruction by way of experiment-based laboratory exercises. These models will be intentionally designed for students in the Women's Studies minor at Texas Tech University in order to attract women to careers in engineering. A summer workshop will be developed in the PI's lab for the Native American Summer Bridge Institute at Texas Tech University targeting Native American high school students. Texas Tech University began its annual NASBI in 2008. The program invites about 40 Native American high school students and their parents to participate in activities that introduce them to academic courses, campus activities, cultural exploration, and college life. The proposed workshop will demonstrate advances and advantages of digital human modeling and simulation. Active recruitment to engineering studies will occur during this event with full participation of the research group.