Product ergonomics in industrial exoskeletons: potential enhancements for workforce efficiency and safety

Implementation of exoskeletons could be one of the solutions to augment human capacity towards reducing the large number of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in the industry. While many studies highlight the benefits offered by these devices, some show mixed results, which could be due to lack of standardised processes in both development and testing. Further, our observations show that current exoskeletons could be further improved with a goal towards increasing the end-user experience. We have identified the key factors in the design of exoskeletons that could be one of the reasons for the discomfort, misfit and low acceptance of the devices among the workers. Considering the ergonomics principles, we have determined elements of exoskeletons that can be associated with the identified limitations, then provided an overview of some of the modern technologies that are being/could be used, and opportunities for using smart materials to facilitate their design enhancement. Finally, relevant human–machine interaction aspects and the feasibility of applying these technologies in exoskeletons to the industrial environments are discussed.