Exploratory Field Testing of Passive Exoskeletons in Several Manufacturing Environments: Perceived Usability and User Acceptance

Abstract

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONS Results of the current exploratory study suggest that use of an exoskeleton (EXO) has the potential to be accepted by workers as an intervention in diverse manufacturing environments. Also evident were that the major factors contributing to EXO-use-intention are perceived comfort, task-technology fit, perceived safety, and perceived usefulness. A user’s perception of perceived usability may be established by using an exoskeleton during actual job tasks, yet some aspects of perceived usability likely require multiple exposures to an EXO for an accurate assessment. Many negative comments regarding EXO use were related to physical constraints (e.g., restricted movements, bulkiness), and to the EXO interface (e.g., straps, cuff designs), suggesting a need for further research on EXO design to minimize discomfort. In practice, there is likely value in having workers use and explore candidate EXOs during their actual job, both to accurately assess the usefulness of an EXO and to find the most effective EXO. TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background There lacks an understanding of using an exoskeleton (EXO) in diverse manufacturing environments. Purpose Goals of this study were to: (1) gather worker feedback on different EXOs after using them during their actual jobs; (2) understand what contributes to EXO-use-intention in manufacturing companies; and (3) develop a decision tree model to explore which task characteristics and user perceptions might aid in determining how to implement an EXO effectively. Methods A field study was completed in five manufacturing companies in the state of Ohio. Fifteen participants used preferred EXOs selected from among two arm-support and two back-support devices during their regular jobs for ≤30 minutes in each of two separate sessions. After using an EXO, participants completed a questionnaire addressing several aspects of usability, comfort, safety, and EXO-use-intention. Open-ended comments on these aspects were coded into emerging themes. A decision tree analysis was performed on participants’ responses to the EXO-use-intention question to explore the predictive value of task characteristics, user characteristics, and questionnaire responses. Results Responses to usability-related questions were rather consistent between the two sessions, yet some responses were more positive in the 2nd session (perceived balance, overall comfort and fit, and range-of-motion). We identified four themes regarding EXO use—utility for work, wearability, working metrics, and ease of using; and negative comments on these themes were largely related to physical constraints from wearing an EXO, and EXO interface. The decision tree analysis suggested that perceived comfort, task-technology fit, perceived safety, and perceived usefulness are each associated with EXO-use-intention. Conclusions EXO use has the potential to be accepted by workers as an intervention in manufacturing environments. However, further work is needed for enhanced comfort, EXO-task fit, user acceptance, and to develop EXO introduction processes to create best practices for effective implementation and sustainable use of EXOs in practice.