Modelling the interaction between wearable assistive devices and digital human models-A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Robotics

Background:

• Wearable assistive devices (WADs) like exoskeletons augment human capabilities but require extensive user testing.
• Digital human models (DHMs) offer a cost-effective alternative for evaluating WADs, but often lack biological realism.
• The human-device interface, primarily soft biological tissue, is crucial for WAD efficiency but is typically omitted in DHMs.

Approach:

• This systematic review identifies and analyzes interaction modeling approaches for WADs within DHMs.
• The study specifically investigates how soft biological tissue is incorporated into these simulation models.
• Four distinct interaction modeling approaches were identified, varying in their fidelity to real-world interactions.

Key Points:

• Some identified approaches account for relative motion between the device and human body due to soft tissue deformation.
• No current models incorporate the energy absorption and viscoelastic properties of soft biological tissue.
• Accurate simulation of soft tissue is essential for understanding force transmission and optimizing WAD design.

Conclusions:

• Integrating soft tissue viscoelasticity into DHMs is a critical next step for advancing WAD development.
• Improved DHM simulations can lead to more efficient and effective wearable assistive devices.
• Further research is needed to develop and validate models that capture the complex biomechanical interactions at the human-device interface.