A+A CONNECTED | WEB SESSION
Review: 1 June 2021
Review: Lecture program
Industrial Exoskeletons: Ergonomic Advantages for Future Work
Moderator:
Urs Schneider
Welcome and introduction
Urs Schneider is director of the medical and biotech division at Fraunhofer IPA in Stuttgart and his own highly interdisciplinary Biomechatronics department. He also serves as head of the Human Technology Interaction department at IFF, University of Stuttgart and teaches medical device mechatronics at Stuttgart University. With more than 15 years of mechatronics engineering experience and a doctorate degree from Heidelberg University he is specializes in mechanical and mechatronic human machine interfaces in orthopedics, prosthetics and orthotics and human ergonomic and safety aspects. Urs Schneider has served in a variety of leadership roles in medical and health safety research committees in Europe and the US. More information can be found at http://www.ipa.fraunhofer.de
Exoworkathlon: Performing physical work with exoskeletons - a live study
The presentation will feature aspects of industrial exoskeletons and especially the idea of the Exoworkathlon, a physical live experiment to be held at WearRAcon Europe and A+A in October 2021 in Germany. The Exoworkathlon includes different work tasks for industrial upper and lower limb exoskeletons to show and discuss an intra-individual comparison in specific tasks with versus without exoskeletons using different assessments.
Verena Kopp, Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionstechnik und Automatisierung IPA, Research
Exoskeletons in the industrial field, experiences based on more than 1,000 exoskeleton projects done
Since 2012, Ottobock has been playing a major role in the industrial exoskeletons segment. Based on 100 years of biomechanical experience and being a global player in prosthetics, orthotics as well as exoskeletons, we support companies, institutions as well as individuals around the globe to stay healthy and fit during their physically demanding work. But why do we actually need exoskeletons? Are they the solution to all our problems? And how does a company actually successfully manage to implement such a new technology into daily work tasks? Let's have a look together at our lessons based on more than 1,000 performed exoskeleton projects.
Mr. David Duwe (MBA), Head of Europe Ottobock Paexo
Strong & Smart: The next generation of exoskeletons
German Bionic IO is the world’s first and only fully connected exoskeleton platform, which seamlessly integrates in all industrial IoT environments and Smart Factory ecosystems to optimize logistics processes and maximize ROI. Remote maintenance capabilities and OTA software updates guarantee the highest uptime, while real-time data forms the basis for machine learning and advanced AI applications to further enhance worker safety and health, and simultaneously exploit further performance potential.
Dr. Peter Heiligensetzer, German Bionic, CTO & Founder
Dick van Wageningen
Exoskeletons – An occupational safety and health perspective
Musculoskeletal disorders are among the most common work-related diseases in Europe. The development of such disorders is often associated with high levels of physical strain in the workplace. Passive exoskeletons offer a potential approach that may help relieve these strains. The talk will give an overview of risks and chances associated with this technology from an occupational safety and health point of view.
Dr. Sascha Wischniewski, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Head of Unit "Human Factors, Ergonomics”
Erik Volz
The use of exoskeletons as the ultimate ratio in the quest for ergonomically optimal logistics processes? - A logistician's field report.
The demographic change in society makes it indispensable for companies to think intensively about the ergonomic design of their workplaces - in order to reduce the physical strain on their workforce and also to offer an attractive working environment in times of a shortage of skilled workers. In addition to automation of work processes, flexible mechanical tools and job rotation, exoskeletons are playing an increasingly important role in areas where the first-mentioned measures are difficult to implement for technical or economic reasons. Against this background, exoskeletons have been and are being tested in day-to-day logistics operations at Schenker Deutschland AG. These practical tests and the findings/experiences made are the topic of today's presentation in the form of tips from practice for practice.
Gerald Müller, Vice President Industrial Engineering, Schenker Deutschland AG
Grégoire Zündel
Closing Speech
