Work Support Device for Operator Posture Fatigue Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating and improving work posture in manufacturing, such as PTL 1, fail to determine the posture that allows operators to work stably with less fatigue and maintain safety, as they do not separately address the learning of ideal work postures.
Innovation Solution
A work support system with a storage unit for posture-associated information, a detection unit for acquiring operator posture data, a calculation unit to determine ideal posture information, and a notification unit to propose improvements, ensuring operators adopt postures that reduce fatigue and enhance workability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional skill instruction methods are used, then skills can be transmitted from skilled technicians, but the transmission takes time and may be incorrect due to sensuous instruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sensuous, mechanical instruction methods with automated measurement and evaluation systems that objectively capture work data, posture information, and skill metrics, eliminating human subjectivity and time-consuming direct instruction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces measurement instruments and evaluation systems as intermediaries between skilled technicians and learners, objectively transmitting skill information through quantified data rather than direct human-to-human instruction
2Manufacturing precision
If work result quality is maintained, then production targets are met, but operator fatigue and safety issues vary depending on posture during work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor work posture and provide real-time evaluation, allowing operators to adjust their posture to reduce fatigue while maintaining work quality standards
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the evaluation parameters from only work result quality to include posture metrics, fatigue indicators, and safety assessments, enabling comprehensive evaluation that balances productivity with operator well-being
3Measurement precision
If PTL 1 evaluation method is used, then work posture position and standard deviation can be indicated, but the posture that stabilizes operation and reduces fatigue cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the evaluation into multiple independent components including posture position, posture stability, fatigue level, and workability metrics, allowing comprehensive assessment beyond simple position measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds new evaluation dimensions beyond spatial position, including temporal stability, physiological fatigue indicators, and operational workability, transforming the evaluation from two-dimensional position data to multi-dimensional performance assessment
Data Source
AI summary
A control device is provided with: a posture information storage unit that stores posture associated information associated with workability being an evaluation criterion at a time of a posture for each piece of posture information of an operator; a posture information detection unit that acquires posture information of the operator during work as current posture information; a posture information calculation unit that obtains, from the posture associated information, ideal posture information for making improvement on workability of the current posture information, obtained by referring to the posture associated information in the storage unit from the current posture information; and a posture information notification unit that notifies the ideal posture information obtained by the calculation unit as an improvement proposal.