Digital Twins of Exoskeleton-Centered Workplaces: Challenges and Development Methodology

摘要

The Exoskeleton represents a promising technology to equip manufacturing workplaces characterized by poor ergonomics, safety and security. Before this technology can be experimented and employed in operational manufacturing environments, the benefits should be highlighted in digital world at the holistic, process, workplace, line and production area levels, with focus on human work conditions. The development of the Digital Twins of Exoskeleton-centered workplaces faces the challenge of approaching the manual assembly and logistics processes as performed by hybrid resources: workers wearing Exoskeletons. From here, the coupling of an Exoskeleton to the digital worker and the realization of the Exoskeleton-Worker Digital Twin requires a thorough understanding of the human models and of wearable robotics, especially Exoskeleton design principles. A coupling methodology was developed and the prototype of the Digital Twins coupled with a commercial Exoskeleton was validated in automotive and logistics industries. The paper presents the performed research for: a) the optimization of the coupling process; b) the modification of the simulation parameters; and c) the embedding of the active Exoskeleton controller to a production and ergonomic simulation software.