Evaluation of the User Command Interface, an Adaptable Setup System for Industrial Exoskeletons

Industrial exoskeletons present a potential solution to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and the risk of injury at work. Researchers and developers face design challenges to optimize the exoskeleton performance when the user interacts with it. In particular, active industrial exoskeletons introduce a challenge for developers since users must have control of certain domains in the exoskeleton. This work presents the evaluation of a Human Machine Interface (HMI) called User Command Interface (UCI), this is an enhancement solution to adapt exoskeleton systems variability between tasks and users. Case studies expose the intended application of the UCI for XoTrunk and Shoulder-sideWINDER exoskeletons. We conduct an experimental protocol with 14 test participants to assess the usability of the UCI integrated into the exoskeleton operational framework. The test participants performed a set of activities that simulates experimental and real scenarios when interacting with XoTrunk and Shoulder-sideWINDER exoskeletons. Results present that the UCI is a simple intuitive control interface with a highly consistent design. The system can solve current interaction problems among developers and users such as secure identification, parameter configuration, signal visualization and storage for user specifications.