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Exoskeleton Usability Questionnaire: a preliminary evaluation questionnaire for the lower limb industrial
Muhammad Hussain1,2, Yong-Ku Kong3, Sang-Soo Park3
1Department of Computer Science, University of York, York, UK.
Ergonomics
|December 19, 2023
Summary
A new Exoskeleton Usability Questionnaire (EUQ) was developed to evaluate lower limb exoskeleton robots. This tool assesses mobility, adjustability, handling, and safety, aiming to reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in workers.
Area of Science:
- Ergonomics and Human Factors
- Robotics and Human-Robot Interaction
- Occupational Health and Safety
Background:
- Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are prevalent in various work environments, posing significant health and economic challenges.
- Exoskeleton robots offer a potential solution for mitigating MSDs, but a standardized usability evaluation tool is currently lacking.
- Lower limb exoskeletons are increasingly used in industrial and agricultural settings to support workers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a preliminary Exoskeleton Usability Questionnaire (EUQ) specifically for lower limb exoskeleton robots.
- To establish a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the subjective usability of exoskeleton technology.
- To provide a tool that can aid in the selection and implementation of exoskeletons to reduce MSDs.
Main Methods:
- A draft questionnaire was created by adapting existing survey questions from relevant prior studies.
- An experiment involving 20 participants performing a task with three different lower limb exoskeletons was conducted.
- Subjective feedback was collected using the developed questionnaire, and data were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
Main Results:
- The developed Exoskeleton Usability Questionnaire (EUQ) was validated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.
- The EUQ was found to effectively cluster exoskeleton usability into four key factors: mobility, adjustability, handling, and safety.
- The questionnaire provides a reliable measure of user perception regarding lower limb exoskeleton performance.
Conclusions:
- The preliminary Exoskeleton Usability Questionnaire (EUQ) is a valuable tool for assessing the usability of lower limb exoskeleton robots.
- The findings support the use of the EUQ in evaluating exoskeletons for production sites and agricultural work.
- Implementing this questionnaire can contribute to reducing the incidence of lower limb MSDs by informing exoskeleton design and selection.
