Workers face growing challenges in the industrial environment. Among the most critical are fatigue and inappropriate postures, often associated with repetitive tasks and working conditions that lack ergonomic suitability. These factors represent significant risks for the development of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs), responsible for 53% of occupational illnesses and a considerable economic impact, with annual costs estimated at €240 billion in the European Union. With the increasing implementation of cobots on production lines, the development of intelligent systems that integrate technological advances with the promotion of occupational health and safety is becoming indispensable. These solutions should not only increase production efficiency but also create healthier working environments aligned with the principles of Industry 5.0, which prioritizes human well-being as a central element of technological innovations.

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Home / Publications / Publication

robótica colaborativa

Publication type: Project Summary
Original title: FAIR project: Fatigue and ergonomics perception for human-care Intelligent collaborative Robot
Project location: Biomedical Robotic Devices Laboratory of the Centre for MicroElectroMechanical Systems at the Universidade do Minho
Project access date: 2 January 2025
Source: Biomedical Robotic Devices Laboratory
Participating entities: Universidade do Minho, Universidade de Estugarda & Bosch Car Multimédia Portugal, S.A.

What is the goal and target audience?
     The FAIR project (Fatigue and Ergonomics Perception for Human-Care Intelligent Collaborative Robot) aims to develop advanced technology for integrating collaborative robots (cobots) into production lines, with the ability perceive and adapt to the physical and occupational health conditions of workers. Aligned with the operator 5.0 concept, it aims to promote safer, healthier and more efficient industrial environments, benefiting workers, managers, automation companies, researchers and legislators.

What is the context?
     Workers face growing challenges in the industrial environment. Among the most critical are fatigue and inappropriate postures, often associated with repetitive tasks and working conditions that lack ergonomic suitability. These factors represent significant risks for the development of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs), responsible for 53% of occupational illnesses and a considerable economic impact, with annual costs estimated at €240 billion in the European Union.

     With the increasing implementation of cobots on production lines, the development of intelligent systems that integrate technological advances with the promotion of occupational health and safety is becoming indispensable. These solutions should not only increase production efficiency but also create healthier working environments aligned with the principles of Industry 5.0, which prioritizes human well-being as a central element of technological innovations.

What does the project consist of?
     With the aim of mitigating the risks associated with WRMSDs, the project integrates cobots in an innovative way into production lines. These cobots continuously adjust the position of the controllers holding the materials used by workers, ensuring that they are always in the most favorable position. Adjustments can be made either indirectly, through received data, or directly, through immediate interaction with the worker.

     Indirect controllers use data collected by sensors integrated into workers’ clothing, which is analyzed based on 2 indicators: fatigue, as a short-term indicator, and postural ergonomics, as a long-term indicator. The controller using fatigue data adjusts the cobot’s movements to quickly reduce muscle effort, while the controller using posture data makes adjustments to improve and optimize posture in the long term based on the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment method.

     The direct controller, the adaptive impedance controller, acts immediately, automatically adjusting the cobot to make it stiffer or smoother, as needed, to ensure safe movement, avoid uncomfortable positions, and help reduce muscle effort.

How is the impact of this project assessed? What is the expected impact of this project?
     The impact of this project is evaluated through pilot demonstrations of the cobots and the validation of software algorithms, such as those applied to fatigue estimation.

     Advances in this technology will reduce the number of WRMSDs, promote human well-being, and increase the companies’ competitiveness by creating inclusive, productive, and healthy workplaces. Aligned with SDGs 3, 8, 9 of the 2030 Agenda and the European Innovation Capacity, the impact of the project is transversal to all industries that involve human-robot collaboration, such as the healthcare area, positioning itself as a milestone in the transition to industry 5.0.

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Home / Publications / Publication

robótica colaborativa

Publication type: Project Summary
Original title: FAIR project: Fatigue and ergonomics perception for human-care Intelligent collaborative Robot
Project location: Biomedical Robotic Devices Laboratory of the Centre for MicroElectroMechanical Systems at the Universidade do Minho
Project access date: 2 January 2025
Source: Biomedical Robotic Devices Laboratory
Participating entities: Universidade do Minho, Universidade de Estugarda & Bosch Car Multimédia Portugal, S.A.

What is the goal and target audience?
     The FAIR project (Fatigue and Ergonomics Perception for Human-Care Intelligent Collaborative Robot) aims to develop advanced technology for integrating collaborative robots (cobots) into production lines, with the ability perceive and adapt to the physical and occupational health conditions of workers. Aligned with the operator 5.0 concept, it aims to promote safer, healthier and more efficient industrial environments, benefiting workers, managers, automation companies, researchers and legislators.

What is the context?
     Workers face growing challenges in the industrial environment. Among the most critical are fatigue and inappropriate postures, often associated with repetitive tasks and working conditions that lack ergonomic suitability. These factors represent significant risks for the development of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs), responsible for 53% of occupational illnesses and a considerable economic impact, with annual costs estimated at €240 billion in the European Union.

     With the increasing implementation of cobots on production lines, the development of intelligent systems that integrate technological advances with the promotion of occupational health and safety is becoming indispensable. These solutions should not only increase production efficiency but also create healthier working environments aligned with the principles of Industry 5.0, which prioritizes human well-being as a central element of technological innovations.

What does the project consist of?
     With the aim of mitigating the risks associated with WRMSDs, the project integrates cobots in an innovative way into production lines. These cobots continuously adjust the position of the controllers holding the materials used by workers, ensuring that they are always in the most favorable position. Adjustments can be made either indirectly, through received data, or directly, through immediate interaction with the worker.

     Indirect controllers use data collected by sensors integrated into workers’ clothing, which is analyzed based on 2 indicators: fatigue, as a short-term indicator, and postural ergonomics, as a long-term indicator. The controller using fatigue data adjusts the cobot’s movements to quickly reduce muscle effort, while the controller using posture data makes adjustments to improve and optimize posture in the long term based on the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment method.

     The direct controller, the adaptive impedance controller, acts immediately, automatically adjusting the cobot to make it stiffer or smoother, as needed, to ensure safe movement, avoid uncomfortable positions, and help reduce muscle effort.

How is the impact of this project assessed? What is the expected impact of this project?
     The impact of this project is evaluated through pilot demonstrations of the cobots and the validation of software algorithms, such as those applied to fatigue estimation.

     Advances in this technology will reduce the number of WRMSDs, promote human well-being, and increase the companies’ competitiveness by creating inclusive, productive, and healthy workplaces. Aligned with SDGs 3, 8, 9 of the 2030 Agenda and the European Innovation Capacity, the impact of the project is transversal to all industries that involve human-robot collaboration, such as the healthcare area, positioning itself as a milestone in the transition to industry 5.0.

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Do you have an innovative idea in healthcare field?

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