A newly developed passive back support exoskeleton, known as Angel X, offers significant assistance for workers handling heavy loads, reducing muscle activation and exertion levels. Researchers from Seoul National University have conducted systematic evaluations showing the device's potential to mitigate musculoskeletal disorders, especially low back pain, prevalent among manual laborers.
Despite automation advancements, about 30% of workers still physically handle heavy loads daily. Such activities often lead to workplace injuries, particularly musculoskeletal disorders, which are widespread across various industries. The Angel X exoskeleton aims to alleviate these issues by providing support through its innovative design.
To validate its effectiveness, 15 healthy young males participated in rigorous trials where they performed lifting tasks both with and without the exoskeleton. The study focused on measuring muscle activation, perceived exertion, metabolic cost, and overall comfort.
The results indicated remarkable efficacy; Angel X reduced participants' muscle activation and energy expenditure by 13.6%. These reductions were statistically significant, with p-values below the threshold of 0.001. Participants enjoyed enhanced comfort levels, reporting reductions of 14.7% in perceived exertion and 30.5% in local musculoskeletal discomfort. Such findings not only highlight the BSE's potential for improving worker well-being but also sport promising economic benefits for industries relying on heavy lifting.
Angel X utilizes a spring-cam mechanism to provide torque assistance, adapting to various movements during load handling. This innovative design allows for smoother motion and less mechanical strain during lifting, which researchers validated across diverse biomechanical measures.
The comprehensive assessment process undertaken for Angel X marks it as one of the first BSEs to incorporate both objective physiological metrics and subjective user experiences. This multifaceted evaluation approach is significant, as prior assessments often focused solely on isolated metrics such as muscle activation without capturing user comfort and perceived exertion.
Continued research and development within this field bearing practical outcomes are encouraged. The study establishes not just the benefits of using the Angel X exoskeleton but also proposes standardized evaluation methodologies for future BSE assessments to streamline comparisons across different models.
Overall, this novel exoskeleton is poised to revolutionize how industries address the physical demands placed on workers. With the risk of injury looming large for many employees handling physical tasks, the findings surrounding Angel X suggest an indispensable tool for enhancing workplace safety and comfort.