Industrial Ergonomics and Biomechanics
Lab
Faculty:
Dr. Michael J.
Agnew
Dr. Maury A. Nussbaum
View the Lab
Other
Labs:
Musculoskeletal
Biomechanics Lab
Human Factors and
Ergonomics
Engineering (HFEEC) Labs
The Industrial
Ergonomics and Biomechanics Laboratory conducts work in
theoretical
and applied ergonomics, occupational biomechanics, and work physiology,
primarily relating to worksite, workstation, and equipment evaluation
and
design. Specifically, research is focused on: biomechanics of the
human body
(modeling, strength, motions, and working postures); human engineering
of
systems, equipment, tools, workstations, and work tasks; and ergonomic
design
for safety, efficiency, and performance. Major application
domains for the
work in the laboratory are manufacturing, construction, and health
care. The
Laboratory consists of several rooms, which are used as needed for
research,
development, and evaluation. This Laboratory is particularly well
equipped
to do research in a variety of areas.
Equipment:
Kinematics:
- Marker tracking
(Vicon; 6-camera)
- 6DOF trackers (XSens); Moven full-body suit
- Faro 12-foot Advantage Arm
Kinetics:
- Force platforms: 3 AMTI and 1 Bertec
- Load Cells: 2 AMIT
(3-axis), several uniaxial (Interface)
- Pressure:
Tekscan Conformat
Strength Measurement:
- Biodex
System 3 Pro
- Grip
and finger dynamometers
Electromyography:
- 16-channels
telemetered (Noraxon)
- 64
channels wired (Measurement Systems, Inc.)
- 16
channels with preamplified electrodes
Physiological
Measures:
- RunMan
NIRS
- Heart
rate monitors (Polar)
- Oxylog
Software:
Recent
and Ongoing Projects:
- Evaluation and design of work tasks to accommodate the aging
worker (e.g. how aging affects work capacity, fatigue, and balance /
postural control).
- Development and validation of biomechanical models for assessing
spinal loading.
- Determining and modeling effects of muscle fatigue on balance and
postural control.
- Consumer product design and evaluation.
- Simulation and ergonomic evaluation of residential construction
tasks (i.e. using pre-fabricated wall systems).
- Development of a decision support system to incorporate ergonomic
evaluations in construction design.
- Interventions to reduce physical workload (e.g. the Portable
Lift-Assist Device, or PLAD).
- Evaluation of balance / falls risks, and interventions to reduce
the risks of fall accidents.
- Development of practical ergonomic guidelines for upper extremity
work, specifically hand-intensive and shoulder-intensive tasks,
incorporating strength, fatigue, and worker acceptability.
- Digital human models that can simulate worker postures and
motions when lifting/handling loads manually
- Evaluation of hospital beds in terms of physical demands on
health care workers
Recent
and Current Sponsors:
- Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc.
- Hyundai Motor Company
- National Institute for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Disorders (NIAMS)
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
- Stryker Medical
- Toshiba Corporation
- United Parcel Service
Industrial
Ergonomic and Biomechanics Lab
Last updated:
04/25/08