Study of Computer Aided Consultation System for Working Postures Using Posture Input Puppet-Like-Device and Visualization of Joint Torque.
Tsuneo KAWANO, Shuzo NISHIDA, Masaharu Hashimoto, Chikara YAMAMOTO, Kazuaki IWATA, Masahiko ONOSATO · Journal of the Japan Society for Precision Engineering · 1996
A consulting system for the body loads taken on individual joints while working has been developed using a kinetic analysis system of human body motions and a posture input device shaped like a robot, called CHAPLIN (Consultation by HAndling Puppet-Like INterface). CHAPLIN has 15 skeletal segments made of vinyl chloride resin, and 16 total degrees of freedom. The sensors are invisibly imbedded in the resin, thereby allowing the exterior form to be crafted so that postures are easily recognizable. The torques acting at body joints are calculated from the posture inputted to a computer and the consulter's anthropometric data. In the system real-time skeletal animation is displayed with colored visualization of the torque intensity about the joints. Based on both the CHAPLIN's posture and the torque intensity displayed, the consultation is conducted comparing the body loads corresponding to several postures during load liftings. As a result of consultations with 20 subjects, it was found that this system is very useful for enabling workers to understand how to improve their postures.