Evaluation of the efficiency of the application of an industrial exoskeleton according to the degree of employee fatigue

Introduction. The object of the study was the trend in the functional state in the human body when performing physical work using an industrial exoskeleton designed to unload the muscles of the back and arms when lifting, lowering, carrying, and holding loads weighing up to 50 kg. The study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of applying an industrial exoskeleton to reduce fatigue in a work simulation environment. Materials and methods. In the laboratory, a model of an employee’s work related to lifting, moving, and holding cargo was developed. To assess the efficiency of the application of an industrial exoskeleton, a comparison was made of the degrees of fatigue in terms of the functional state of skeletal muscles when performing laboratory model of labor activity with and without an industrial exoskeleton. The following biomedical methods were used: electromyography, myotonometry, and questionnaires. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis. Results. When working with an exoskeleton, some muscles were in a state of less tension than when working without it. The results of the analysis of the subjective assessment of local stress showed the physical stress in the volunteers to be lower when working in an exoskeleton compared to working without it. Limitations. A small sample size and modeling in labour activity in the laboratory does not allow taking into account all the factors that affect an employee using an exoskeleton in production. For a more complete evaluation of the efficiency of an industrial exoskeleton, it is necessary to take into account the dynamics of indicators of the cardiovascular, respiratory and other body systems. Conclusions. From the point of view of the influence of the application of an industrial exoskeleton on the fatigue during production operations similar to the laboratory model of labor activity, it is possible to conclude about the efficiency of the application of an industrial exoskeleton.