Key result
A scoping review of 211 studies on wearable sensors in intralogistics found that EMG applications dominated the literature (208/211), with 92% of studies conducted in laboratory environments.
Why the study?
Industry 5.0 emphasizes human-centric intralogistics systems, prompting an investigation into how wearable EMG and ECG sensors capture physiological data to guide operational and technology decisions.
This scoping review highlights the dominance of EMG over ECG in intralogistics research and proposes a conceptual framework for how physiological data can shape human-centric intralogistics systems.
May inform operations design via worker EMG/ECG monitoring; leaves open standardized validation in Industry 5.0 settings.
The transition toward Industry 5.0 emphasises human-centric intralogistics systems that balance technological innovation with worker well-being. To this end, wearable sensors provide new opportunities for capturing physiological data. This review investigates the use of electromyography (EMG) and electrocardiography (ECG) sensors in studying workers to collect data that enable informed decisions related to operations design, Industry 4.0 technology selection, and assessment of human–technology interactions in real-world intralogistics settings. We identified 211 relevant studies on EMG and ECG in intralogistics systems; 92% were conducted in laboratory environments rather than in the field. EMG applications dominated the literature (208/211), whereas ECG usage was limited (13/211). We distinguish between the intended effects of sensor use, such as ergonomic assessment, and unintended effects, including physical discomfort, psychosocial stress, and challenges related to worker heterogeneity. Building on these findings, we developed a conceptual framework describing how physiological data can shape intralogistics systems. Our results show that wearable sensors affect the system performance both through the generated data and behavioural responses when these data are embedded in management processes. Although centred on the research on EMG and ECG in intralogistics, this framework can be applied to other industrial contexts and wearable sensing technologies.
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Ranasinghe et al. (2026) conducted a review in Intralogistics workers (n=211). EMG and ECG sensors was evaluated on Use of EMG and ECG sensors in intralogistics research. A scoping review of 211 studies on wearable sensors in intralogistics found that EMG applications dominated the literature (208/211), with 92% of studies conducted in laboratory environments.
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