Emerging research fields in safety and ergonomics in industrial collaborative robotics: A systematic literature review

Gualtieri, Luca; Rauch, Erwin; Vidoni, Renato

doi:10.1016/j.rcim.2020.101998

Cited by 256 publications

(148 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…The collaborative workstation proved to be a sustainable production system as corroborated by the ergonomic and productivity results. These results are in line with previous studies that defend the HRC implementation as a solution to reduce physical workload [18], and it constitutes an emergent and relevant research challenge [26].…”

Section: Reverse Stripessupporting

confidence: 91%

“…At the same time, E&HF are still underrepresented in the I4.0 research topic, resulting in a relevant research and application gap [25]. Gualtieri et al [26] reviewed the emergent research challenges on ergonomics and safety in industrial HRC and noted the lack of studies on ergonomics when compared to safety-related research. They argue about the need to align HRC with E&HF considering the workers' wellbeing, sustainability, human-centered design, and psychosocial aspects.…”

Section: Impact Of Collaborative Robotics In the Manufacturing Industrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The positive impact of the collaborative workstation in terms of work performance and physical ergonomics is evident, highlighting the importance of these work transformations that companies should implement. Another emergent research area is related to cognitive ergonomics because the introduction of the HRC could induce work-related psychosocial risks due to the sharing activities and workspaces [26]. A relevant parameter to be studied is the acceptability of the robotic systems by human coworkers.…”

Section: Workers' Perception Of the Collaborative Preassemblymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, in different HRC workstations, with more or less closed interaction, several advantages but also new forms of discomfort for the workers could appear. In this context, and according to the results, it will be important to develop methodologies to assess cognitive ergonomics related to collaborative robotic systems (as defended by other authors [26]).…”

Section: Workers' Perception Of the Collaborative Preassemblymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Lean Manufacturing and Ergonomics Integration: Defining Productivity and Wellbeing Indicators in a Human–Robot Workstation

Colim¹,

Morgado

Carneiro

et al. 2021

Sustainability

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Lean Manufacturing (LM), Ergonomics and Human Factors (E&HF), and Human–Robot Collaboration (HRC) are vibrant topics for researchers and companies. Among other emergent technologies, collaborative robotics is an innovative solution to reduce ergonomic concerns and improve manufacturing productivity. However, there is a lack of studies providing empirical evidence about the implementation of these technologies, with little or no consideration for E&HF. This study analyzes an industrial implementation of a collaborative robotic workstation for assembly tasks performed by workers with musculoskeletal complaints through a synergistic integration of E&HF and LM principles. We assessed the workstation before and after the implementation of robotic technology and measured different key performance indicators (e.g., production rate) through a time study and direct observation. We considered 40 postures adopted during the assembly tasks and applied three assessment methods: Rapid Upper Limb Assessment, Revised Strain Index, and Key Indicator Method. Furthermore, we conducted a questionnaire to collect more indicators of workers’ wellbeing. This multi-method approach demonstrated that the hybrid workstation achieved: (i) a reduction of production times; (ii) an improvement of ergonomic conditions; and (iii) an enhancement of workers’ wellbeing. This ergonomic lean study based on human-centered principles proved to be a valid and efficient method to implement and assess collaborative workstations, foreseeing the continuous improvement of the involved processes.

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Section: Reverse Stripessupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Impact Of Collaborative Robotics In the Manufacturing Industrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Workers' Perception Of the Collaborative Preassemblymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Workers' Perception Of the Collaborative Preassemblymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Lean Manufacturing and Ergonomics Integration: Defining Productivity and Wellbeing Indicators in a Human–Robot Workstation

Colim¹,

Morgado

Carneiro

et al. 2021

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Unlike conventional industrial robots, which are usually isolated from workers to avoid physical contact with humans, collaborative robots, known as cobot coexist with humans in a common workspace and work with them to perform required tasks [ 23 , 24 ]. Cobots contain safety devices and are considered to be cooperating robots that can work safely with human workers [ 25 , 26 ]. It is also the designation of robots as cooperating and co-existent that may lead to being associated with safety [ 27 ].…”

Section: Introduction and Theoretical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of the Impact of Human–Cobot Collaborative Manufacturing Implementation on the Occupational Health and Safety and the Quality Requirements

Paulíková

Babeľová

Ubárová

2021

IJERPH

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Implementing Industry 4.0 and interconnected robotization in industrial enterprises drifts towards occupational changes. Nowadays, the task is to create cooperation and collaboration between a robot and a human in a common robotized workplace so that it is safe and effective. The type of robot, the robotic device that works in collaboration with a human operator, is called a cobot. In the case of a closer interaction of the robot or cobot with humans, it is necessary to consider where it is possible to replace human work entirely or where it is possible to merely supplement it. The most socially acceptable option is the implementation of robots only for the performance of supplementary tasks, since the traditional work positions of people in manufacturing processes would remain largely preserved. On the other hand, workplace robotization is particularly suitable for work environments with hazardous chemical substances that are carcinogenic and toxic to humans. Similarly, robotization helps to improve workplace ergonomics and also to avoid, for humans, very laborious and often repetitive work. The SWOT analysis (analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) was used as a relevant tool to assess various aspects of the impact of increasing robotization on working positions in industrial enterprises. SWOT analysis is an indicative assessment of the suitability of implementation of robots in a given workplace, which helps to create an optimal solution and indicate new areas of needed analysis and research directions.

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Adaptive fixed‐time minimal learning force/position control of uncertain manipulators subject to input saturation

Fang

et al. 2023

Adaptive Control & Signal

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This article solves the fixed-time force/position control problem for constrained manipulators in the presence of input saturation and uncertain dynamics. Under the fixed-time stability theory, a novel fixed-time auxiliary dynamic system (ADS) is first presented to compensate for the effects of input saturation nonlinearity. System uncertainties are estimated by using radial basis function neural networks (RBF NNs) and only need to tune one neural parameter online. In addition, with a fixed-time sliding mode surface and the proposed fixed-time ADS, a novel fixed-time adaptive neural force/position controller is designed which can not only ensure the fixed-time stability of the position tracking error but also enable the manipulator to track the desired force trajectory. By using the Lyapunov method, the boundedness of all signals in the closed-loop system is proved. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by comparative simulation works.

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Emerging research fields in safety and ergonomics in industrial collaborative robotics: A systematic literature review

Cited by 256 publications

References 53 publications

Lean Manufacturing and Ergonomics Integration: Defining Productivity and Wellbeing Indicators in a Human–Robot Workstation

Lean Manufacturing and Ergonomics Integration: Defining Productivity and Wellbeing Indicators in a Human–Robot Workstation

Analysis of the Impact of Human–Cobot Collaborative Manufacturing Implementation on the Occupational Health and Safety and the Quality Requirements

Adaptive fixed‐time minimal learning force/position control of uncertain manipulators subject to input saturation

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