Exoskeleton Ease-of-Use is Key to Workplace Adoption, Study Finds

Engineers at The University of Texas at El Paso have identified a critical factor hindering the widespread adoption of exoskeletons: their complexity and cumbersome nature. While wearable exoskeletons offer potential benefits in reducing workplace strain and preventing injuries, the technology's usability remains a significant hurdle.

The research, published in PLOS One, evaluated four commercially available occupational exoskeleton systems: Ironhand, Chairless Chair, Skelex, and Laevo. The study focused on the time participants took to assemble, put on, remove, and disassemble each device. Researchers also analyzed the number of procedural steps, the quantity of parts, and any usability issues encountered during setup.

Findings revealed a wide variation in setup complexity, with the simplest device requiring 39 steps and the most complex demanding 110 steps. Each additional step correlated with increased completion time, which ranged from six-and-a-half minutes to 25 minutes. Furthermore, usability problems led to performance slowdowns, with one device exhibiting failure rates as high as 49%.

According to the study's lead, Arunkumar Pennathur, a device's biomechanical benefits are negated if it is time-consuming to set up or requires assistance. The team emphasizes that future exoskeleton designs should prioritize simplicity, aiming to reduce steps, eliminate special tools and measurements, incorporate self-aligning connections, provide clear feedback on correct assembly, and ensure a single user can operate the device independently. The researchers plan to conduct further testing under real-world conditions with actual workers to assess performance under time pressure and in busy environments.