Inertial Motion Capture-Driven Digital Human for Ergonomic Validation: A Case Study of Core Drilling

Area of Science:

• Ergonomics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Growing demand for improved comfort, visibility, and accessibility in engineering machinery operation.
• Limitations of traditional ergonomic assessment methods for complex machinery like driller cabins.
• Need for precise, realistic human-machine interaction data in ergonomic evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an innovative method for assessing driller cabin ergonomics using a digital human model.
• To develop a simplified human upper limb model for calculating joint forces and torques.
• To create a versatile ergonomic analysis platform for quantitative evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing inertial motion capture sensors to animate a virtual driller with real human movements.
• Developing a simplified human upper limb model for biomechanical analysis.
• Constructing an ergonomic analysis platform in Unity 3D, integrating a virtual driller's cabin and a digital human model.

Main Results:

• Generation of precise and realistic human-machine interaction data.
• Facilitation of quantitative evaluation of comfortability, visibility, and accessibility within the driller's cabin.
• Demonstration of a functional ergonomic analysis platform.

Conclusions:

• The digital human approach offers a novel and effective method for ergonomic assessment of engineering machinery.
• The developed platform provides substantial support for product development and enhancement in ergonomics.
• This methodology enhances the precision and realism of human-machine interaction data for ergonomic studies.