Ergonomics and human factors as a requirement to implement safer collaborative robotic workstations: a literature review

There is a worldwide interest in implementing collaborative robots (Cobots) to reduce work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD) risk. While prior work in this field has recognized the importance of considering Ergonomics & Human Factors (E&HF) in the design phase, most works tend to highlight workstations’ improvements due to Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC). Based on a literature review, the current study summarises studies where E&HF was considered a requirement rather than an output. In this article, the authors are interested in understanding the existing studies focused on Cobots’ implementation with ergonomic requirements, and the methods applied to design safer collaborative workstations. This review was performed in four prominent publications databases: Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed, and Google Scholar, searching for the keywords ‘Collaborative robots’ or ‘Cobots’ or ‘HRC’ and ‘Ergonomics’ or ‘Human factors’. Based on the inclusion criterion, 20 articles were reviewed, and the main conclusions of each are provided. Additionally, the focus was given to the segmentation between studies considering E&HF during the design phase of HRC systems and studies applying E&HF in real-time on HRC systems. The results demonstrate the novelty of this topic, especially of the real-time applications of ergonomics as a requirement. Globally, the results of the reviewed studies showed the potential of E&HF requirements integrated into HRC systems as a relevant input for reducing WMSD risk.This work has been supported by FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and MIT Portugal Program under the doctoral Grant SFRH/BD/151365/2021. This work has been also supported by NORTE-06-3559-FSE-000018, integrated in the invitation NORTE-59-2018-41, aiming the Hiring of Highly Qualified Human Resources, co-financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the North 2020, thematic area of Competitiveness and Employment, through the European Social Fund. Additionally, has been also supported by FCT within the Project “I-CATER–Intelligent robotic Coworker Assistant for industrial Tasks with an Ergonomics Rationale”, Ref. PTDC/EEIROB/3488/2021, and within R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020

Encapsulating and representing the knowledge on the evaluation of an engineering system

This paper proposes a cross-disciplinary methodology for a fundamental question in product development: How can the innovation patterns during the evolution of an engineering system (ES) be encapsulated, so that it can later be mined through data mining analysis methods? Reverse engineering answers the question of which components a developed engineering system consists of, and how the components interact to make the working product. TRIZ answers the question of which problem-solving principles can be, or have been employed in developing that system, in comparison to its earlier versions, or with respect to similar systems. While these two methodologies have been very popular, to the best of our knowledge, there does not yet exist a methodology that reverseengineers and encapsulates and represents the information regarding the complete product development process in abstract terms. This paper suggests such a methodology, that consists of mathematical formalism, graph visualization, and database representation. The proposed approach is demonstrated by analyzing the design and development process for a prototype wrist-rehabilitation robot

Kano Model approach for design improvement associated with ergonomics issues in CNC machine design

Application of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology in manufacturing industry has been recognized as one of the effective solutions to high productivity, efficiency, and precision. In advancement of CNC machine tool technology development; however, the ergonomic issues related to human-machine design are still less-addressed by scholars. This study was carried out to analyze a CNC machining center based on the operators’ requirements. The functional and dysfunctional questionnaire form developed based on Kano method was applied to determine the operators’ requirements related to technical specifications of the CNC machining center. Another questionnaire form equipped with a diagram of human body parts and ergonomics features was used to acquire information on the CNC machining center design. This study found that there is a significant correlation between the ergonomics problems in the feet towards facilities required for the CNC machining center – an adjustable standing platform. This study concluded that application of Kano model can contribute to operators’ satisfaction in terms of ergonomic design of CNC machining center

Secure Online Voting System for MPPUTP

This study is about an online voting system prepared for the Final Year Project. The aims of the project were two: to discover what wouldbe required of an electronic voting system to make it a suitable replacement for the existing paper-ballot system; and to begin the process of designing and implementing a system which could meet the requirements. The first goal was achieved through research into the opinions of experts on electronic voting and computer security. The second was achieved with the use of formal methods. i

Ablution Furniture for Multiple User (AFME)

Many mosques in Malaysia have several different types of ablutions platform; with a seat or without a seat. The ablution platforms are designed to assist Muslim ritual activity, which are a pre-requisite before performing their 5 times prayer daily. Thus, it is important to has an ergonomic, safe and hygiene ablution platform including its furniture to ensure the effectiveness of the ablution activity. This research recommended AFME as one of the option to help the Muslim users in their ablution activity

Evaluasi Ketergunaan Sistem Pencarian Lokasi Buku di Dinas Kearsipan dan Perpustakaan Provinsi Jawa Tengah

Usability adalah seberapa mudah atau ukuran pengguna dalam menggunakan sistem. Pada saat ini Dinas Kearsipan dan Perpustakaan Provinsi Jawa Tengah (Dinas ARPUS) belum ada sistem pencarian lokasi buku (SILOKU). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa faktor ketergunaan suatu tampilan SILOKU pada Dinas ARPUS. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah rekomendasi tampilan SILOKU yang sudah diuji ketergunaannya. Pada penelitian ini digunakan lima aspek yaitu aspek effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction, ease of use, dan ease of learning. Pengumpulan data untuk aspek effectiveness dan efficiency dilakukan dengan cara melakukan observasi. Sedangkan pengumpulan data untuk aspek satisfaction, ease of use, dan ease of learning dilakukan dengan cara pengisian kuesioner yang dilakukan oleh responden. Uji ketergunaan dilakukan pada pengguna super_admin, petugas, dan pengunjung perpustakaan. Super_admin dan petugas yang dimaksud adalah petugas yang berada di Dinas ARPUS. Kasus uji coba dibuat berdasarkan Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) SILOKU. Pada hasil perhitungan didapatkan nilai evaluasi yang menunjukan adanya masalah yaitu tampilan SILOKU tidak menarik. Akan tetapi hasil uji coba tampilan SILOKU dari pengguna super_admin, petugas, dan pengunjung tidak mengalami kesulitan. Berdasarkan masalah tersebut, maka didapatkan rekomendasi dari hasil uji ketergunaan untuk aspek effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction, ease of use, dan ease of learning adalah warna pada tampilan SILOKU yang tidak menarik sebaiknya diperbaiki. Hal ini bertujuan untuk memberikan kenyamanan responden dalam menggunakan tampilan SILOK

From handcrafting to a certified and ergonomic collaborative workstation: the digital transformation process

As manufacturing enters an era of mass customization, new technological solutions with more versatility and flexibility are brought to the industry. Collaborative robots, or COBOTs, can now safely work near humans, a key advantage that enables highly-flexible production and opens the possibility to tackle the incidence of occupational health problems. Although the advantages of collaborative robotic manufacturing have been extensively praised, adapting a manual production workstation to integrate robotic technology is far from being a linear and easy process. In this work, we explore this delicate balance between the ergonomic, production, and safety requirements in the design of a new collaborative cell. We explain the different steps of this digital transformation process and the thought process behind human-robot task allocation to maximize the collaborative robot efficiency while improving the work conditions. This work describes the development of a certified and production-ready collaborative workstation based on ergonomic criteria. Results show a significant reduction in the global ergonomic risk score associated with the workers' actions and postures and an increase in production quotas, compared to the previous manual process.This work was supported by NORTE-06-3559-FSE-000018, integrated into the invitation NORTE-59-2018-41, aiming to hire highly-qualified human resources, co-financed by the Regional Operational Programme of the North 2020, thematic area of Competitiveness and Employment, through the European Social Fund (ESF)

Adapting Visual Representation of ‘Harimau Malaya’ through Line Drawing Artwork for Widebody Aircraft Livery Design

An aircraft livery design comprises comprehensive insignia that include colour, visual, and typographic identifiers. Stagecoaches, railroad trains, and steamships all appeared, and the term "livery" came to refer to the interior design of these vehicles. Parts of airline liveries have become increasingly intertwined with ground transportation, advertising, exclusive airport furnishings, airline promotional materials, and aircrew uniforms since the 1950s. These features began to appear on airline websites in the 1990s. This collection of idealistic livery designs is influenced by many elements set in a specific aesthetic; typographic designers precisely specify it as a logotype. This research aims to describe how an artwork painting of a Harimau Malaya subject is styled and adapted as a visual representation for an aircraft livery design. Keywords: Aircraft, Livery; Design, Art; Harimau Malaya  eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DO