20 17/2023 Ergonomics Text & Pictures: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH Stockumer Kirchstraße 61 40474 Düsseldorf The market for exoskeletons is growing. According to market research firm Frost & Sullivan 2021, the market for industrial exoskeletons will experience a compound annual growth rate of over 40% in the coming years, reaching a market volume of over $400M by 2025. A diverse world of assistive solutions The world of these physical assistants has become very diverse. Diverse „pain points“ and risk zones are relieved or supported by exoskeletons and softsuits. The focus is on the two most relevant body zones for discomfort during physical work: back and shoulders. Lightweight textile structures such as from Hunic, but also passive exoskeleton systems such as from Laevo, OttoBock, Innophys, ErgoSante and Auxivo relieve the lumbar spine during various activities. For active systems also already with options for data interfaces, GermanBionics in particular is a supplier. The good news is that the diversity of the solutions allows a much better fit with regard to the variety of activities in craft businesses, medium-sized companies and in corporate groups than was the case three years ago, for example. For shoulder relief, there are also various passive exoskeletons available, such as those from OttoBock, Comau, Ergosante and Skelex are available. There is a great need for solutions for people whose workplaces cannot be improved either by technical modifications or organizational changes. Therefore, there are also products for thumbs, wrists, elbows from various manufacturers worldwide. Principles of established orthotic fittings are also used here. Bioservo supports the strength of the hand, which is the weakest link in various highly stressful activities. Which exoskeletons are available? How do they perform in studies? Where can I watch work being done with exoskeletons? Where can I try them out at workplaces? Where is the trade congress on the topic? You will experience all of this at A&A in a cooperation between Fraunhofer IPA and the University of Stuttgart IFF, the World Exoskeleton Association WEARRA with A&A and the BASI Congress. The „ExoPark“ awaits you in Hall 5: a large international joint booth of exoskeleton distributors. These will enable you to get to know many different systems in a manageable area and even try them out for yourself on realistic working devices defined and implemented by Fraunhofer IPA and the University of Stuttgart IFF and manufacturers. Exoworkathlon® study to watch Various studies have so far been able to prove local relief in the target regions of the exoskeletons used by measuring muscle activity and acting forces. The Fraunhofer IPA and University of Stuttgart research team was able to show in Exoworkathlon experiments that with sensibly used commercial exoskeletons the subjective relief is indicated in more than 80 cases by more than 20%. This subjective relief is also reflected in the objectively measured parameters of muscle activity. In the back region, for example, this is lower by more than 20% when wearing a support system. The team‘s performance physiology study demonstrated significant circulatory relief in over 50 welders through the use of passive shoulder exoskeletons. Physical relief can positively affect the ability to concentrate. Hamburg researchers were able to show this in construction workers in 2021. This news is great because it can push musculoskeletal diseases into the future and increase the quality of life of hard-working people. It will also make people more productive. This is relevant in the midst of the perspective growing shortage of skilled workers. In addition, a large proportion of serious accidents at work are associated with a loss of concentration. Accordingly, exoskeletons can also help prevent this. There is another exciting piece of news: manual welding seams are 10% better with exoskeletons. We EXOSKELETTE: Ergonomics tools of the future
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