Virtual Reality Simulation of Exoskeleton-Assistance for Manual Material Handling

While occupational exoskeletons have shown the potential to control and prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders, there is limited information available that can guide users in making informed decisions about adopting exoskeletons. Hence, we developed a virtual reality (VR) program that enables users to perform tasks required in real-life scenarios and visualize the beneficial and negative effects of using an exoskeleton. As a first step, we simulated a specific passive back-support exoskeleton (BSE; backX™) for assisting box lifting tasks in a virtual environment. The VR program was designed for users to customize the lifting environment (i.e., load magnitude and lifting distance, height, and angle), execute virtual lifting tasks (i.e., without actual physical loads and without wearing the BSE), and access infographics illustrating the simulated beneficial (i.e., decrease in spinal forces) and negative (i.e., increase in chest discomfort) effects of using the BSE for the given lifting task. An experimental study, involving 12 participants, was conducted to explore how perceived usefulness of the BSE changes when individuals experience the VR program. Participants completed four different types of virtual box lifting tasks (i.e., symmetric ankle-to-hip lift and asymmetric hip-to-hip lift; each with light and heavy loads). Perceived usefulness was higher for lifts with heavy load (vs. light load) and for ankle-to-hip lifts (vs. hip-to-hip lifts), suggesting that the infographics presented in the VR program effectively conveyed the potential biomechanical risks associated with lifting tasks as well as the extent to which wearing a BSE can alleviate these risks. Future work should investigate whether the experience in such virtual settings aligns with real-world BSE utilization, and/or contributes to influencing individuals’ eventual understanding/acceptance of exoskeleton technologies.