The project aims to develop, optimize, and validate a platform for the ergonomic design of workstations in industrial plants, consisting of two distinct and integrated software programs capable of providing a wide range of outputs. The first software will use inertial sensors placed on the operator engaged in a work task, either real or simulated in virtual reality, to extract information related to ergonomic indices, considering them appropriately as reported in current regulations and related ISO standards. The second software, by reproducing a three-dimensional environment corresponding to the actual workstation using extended reality or cross reality (XR), imported from CAD files, aims to better identify issues from the initial project phase and consequently speed up layout modifications, along with creating a virtual environment designed for operator training.
This approach makes it possible, and more effective, to consider ergonomic design, placing humans at the center of the industrial universe while respecting the values of Industry 4.0, right from the design phase, through specific algorithms for calculating dedicated worksheets, such as EAWS. Secondly, it enables the acceleration of control procedures for existing stations through the digitization of the currently manual procedure. The integration of these two tools, by increasing the amount of information available from the design phase, will allow for the limitation of errors and modifications to be made in the more mature stages of design, resulting in cost reduction and increased competitiveness of companies.
