Virginia Tech
Effects of Occupational Exoskeletons on Responses to Simulated Slips and Trips
Abstract
dc:description.abstractOccupational exoskeletons are designed to reduce workplace injury risk by decreasing work demands. Due to their relatively recent development, there has been limited research into potential unintended and undesirable consequences of wearing them. The goal of this thesis was to investigate the effects of exoskeleton use on reactive balance in response to simulated slips and trips. Five representative exoskeletons were investigated including leg-, back, and shoulder-support exoskeletons. This thesis consists of two studies: a smaller study investigating one exoskeleton and a larger one investigating multiple exoskeletons. Participants stood on a specialized treadmill, then abruptly and unexpectedly changing treadmill belt speed to simulate trip-like forward losses of balance or slip-like backward losses of balance. The results of the first study showed that a passive leg-support exoskeleton adversely reactive balance for both slips and trips. The results of the second study showed that back-support exoskeletons had a greater adverse effect on reactive balance compared to shoulder-support exoskeletons for both slips and trips. These exoskeletons affected reactive balance due to their interaction with stepping kinematics and movement constraints. This thesis provides important information that can be used to warn users of potential increased fall risks and inform exoskeleton manufacturers who may be able to modify designs to reduce any additional fall risk.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Master of Science
- Level thesis:degree_level
- masters
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Industrial and Systems Engineering
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 2023
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Dooley, Stephen Joseph
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Madigan, Michael L.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Kim, Sun Wook
- Nussbaum, Maury A.
Subjects
dc:subject × 4Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
- Language dc:language.iso
- en
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- vt_gsexam:37578
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/115861