Digital Human Modeling for Workspace Design

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don B. Chaffin
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Digital Human Modeling ◽  
Cad Systems ◽  
Work Settings ◽  
Biomechanical Models ◽  
Human Modeling ◽  
Digital Human Models ◽  
Manual Tasks ◽  
Digital Human

Digital human modeling (DHM) technology offers human factors/ergonomics specialists the promise of an efficient means to simulate a large variety of ergonomics issues early in the design of products and manufacturing workstations. It rests on the premise that most products and manufacturing work settings are specified and designed by using sophisticated computer-aided design (CAD) systems. By integrating a computer-rendered avatar (or hominoid) and the CAD-rendered graphics of a prospective workspace, one can simulate issues regarding who can fit, reach, see, manipulate, and so on. In this chapter, I briefly describe the development of various DHM methods to improve CAD systems. Past concerns about early DHM methods are discussed, followed by a description of some of the recent major developments that represent attempts by various groups to address the early concerns. In this latter context, methods are described for using anthropometric databases to ensure that population shape and size are well modeled. Efforts to integrate various biomechanical models into DHM systems also are described, followed by a section that outlines how human motions are being modeled in different DHM systems. In a final section, I discuss recent work to merge cognitive models of human performance with DHM models of manual tasks. Much has been accomplished in recent years to make digital human models more useful and effective in resolving ergonomics issues during the design of products and manufacturing processes, but much remains to be learned and applied in this rapidly evolving aspect of ergonomics.

Exploring the Design Space Using a Surrogate Model Approach With Digital Human Modeling Simulations

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Ahmed ◽  
Mihir Sunil Gawand ◽  
Lukman Irshad ◽  
H. Onan Demirel
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Surrogate Model ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Digital Human Modeling ◽  
Design Variables ◽  
Human Modeling ◽  
Digital Human

Computational human factors tools are often not fully-integrated during the early phases of product design. Often, conventional ergonomic practices require physical prototypes and human subjects which are costly in terms of finances and time. Ergonomics evaluations executed on physical prototypes has the limitations of increasing the overall rework as more iterations are required to incorporate design changes related to human factors that are found later in the design stage, which affects the overall cost of product development. This paper proposes a design methodology based on Digital Human Modeling (DHM) approach to inform designers about the ergonomics adequacies of products during early stages of design process. This proactive ergonomics approach has the potential to allow designers to identify significant design variables that affect the human performance before full-scale prototypes are built. The design method utilizes a surrogate model that represents human product interaction. Optimizing the surrogate model provides design concepts to optimize human performance. The efficacy of the proposed design method is demonstrated by a cockpit design study.

Digital Human Modeling in the Development of Assistive Technologies for Elderly Users

2015 ◽  
Vol 809-810 ◽  
pp. 835-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Adina Şuteu Băncilă ◽  
Constantin Buzatu
Keyword(s):  
Design Process ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Digital Human Modeling ◽  
Human Models ◽  
Human Modeling ◽  
Digital Human Models ◽  
Digital Human ◽  
Elderly Users ◽  
Walking Aid

As ergonomics has become an integral part of the design process, digital human modeling is a rapidly emerging area that links computer-aided engineering design, human factors engineering and applied ergonomics. This paper briefly presents some of the basic principles of user-centered design and their relationship to ergonomics, together with the application of digital human modeling (DHM) in the design process of an assistive walking aid for elderly users with low mobility, considering the assessment of risk and comfort of the system. The use of DHM in order to improve certain features of a system or product is not a new concept, various types of digital human models being used for over 35 years. Using the Human Builder module in CATIA V5 two human models are generated with the help of anthropometric data collected from a group of >65 years old participants living in assistive care centers. The models are further employed in testing the safety and comfort level of the walking aid currently used by the participants, resulting the need of immediate changes in the device.

Computational Prototyping Methods to Design Human Centered Products of High and Low Level Human Interactions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Ahmed ◽  
Lukman Irshad ◽  
H. Onan Demirel
Keyword(s):  
Human Computer Interaction ◽  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
High Fidelity ◽  
Digital Human Modeling ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Human Modeling ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
High Level ◽  
Aided Design ◽  
Digital Human

Abstract Incorporating human factors engineering guidelines early in design has the potential to reduce the cost and product lead-time to market. Also, products that go through strict ergonomics assessments are associated with better comfort and safety ratings. However, designers are often caught in the dilemma of what prototyping method to use when assessing product ergonomics early in design. This is especially problematic during the conceptual design phase before the physical prototypes are available or built. In this research, we explore the computational prototyping dilemma for early design ergonomics assessments from both fidelity and human-product interaction perspectives. In this paper, three computational prototypes with different fidelity levels (low, medium-, and high-fidelity) are compared in their adequacy for evaluating designs that comprise low- to high-levels of human-product interactions. We used three computational prototyping strategies: (1) Method #1 is a low-fidelity methodology based a digital sketchpad tool; (2) Method #2 is a medium-fidelity methodology consisted of computer-aided design and digital human modeling; and, (3) Method #3 is a high-fidelity methodology composed of computer-aided design, digital human modeling, and surrogate modeling. In order to perform computational ergonomics analyses using above approach, we selected a generic wall mounted cabinet design and a simplified Boeing 767 cockpit model as case studies to illustrate designs that require low- and high-levels of human-product interactions. Our preliminary results show that low-, medium- and high-level prototyping strategies produce similar ergonomics outcomes when evaluating low-level human-computer interaction (e.g., cabinet model). On the other hand, both low- and medium-fidelity (Method #1 and Method #2) prototyping strategies are limited in terms of providing detailed information about human performance when compared to high-fidelity prototyping (Method #3) in evaluating designs with high-level human-computer interaction (e.g., cockpit model).

Prototyping Human-Centered Products in the Age of Industry 4.0

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Salman Ahmed ◽  
Lukman Irshad ◽  
Onan Demirel
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Product Development Process ◽  
Digital Human Modeling ◽  
Fidelity Level ◽  
Human Modeling ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Aided Design ◽  
Digital Human ◽  
Product Interaction

Abstract Industry 4.0 promises better control of the overall product development process; however, there is a lack of computational frameworks that can inject human factors engineering principles early in design. This shortage is particularly crucial for prototyping of human-centered products where the stakes are high. Thus, a smooth Industry 4.0 transformation requires bringing computational ergonomics into the loop, specifically to address the needs in the digitized prototyping process. In this paper, a computational prototyping approach is explored that focuses on various fidelity levels and different human-product interaction levels when conducting ergonomics assessments. Three computational prototyping strategies were explored, including (1) a digital sketchpad based tool, (2) computer-aided design and digital human modeling based approach, and (3) a combination of computer-aided design, digital human modeling, and surrogate modeling. These strategies are applied to six case studies to perform various ergonomics assessments (reach, vision, and lower-back). It is suggest that designers must determine which fidelity level prototype to employ after applying a trade-off study between the accuracy of the ergonomics outcomes and the available resources. Understanding the intricacies between the fidelity level, type of ergonomic assessment, and human-product interaction level helps designers in getting one step closer to digitizing the human-centered prototyping in meeting Industry 4.0 objectives.

Digital Human Modeling of Obese & Aging Workers in Automotive Manufacturing

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1041-1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sriya Ngo ◽  
Carolyn M. Sommerich ◽  
Anthony F. Luscher
Keyword(s):  
Software Tool ◽  
Population Diversity ◽  
Digital Human Modeling ◽  
Automotive Manufacturing ◽  
Automobile Assembly ◽  
Digital Modeling ◽  
Human Modeling ◽  
Modeling Software ◽  
Digital Human Models ◽  
Digital Human

Digital human modeling has become an important tool in several industries, particularly in manufacturing. However, when these models are used, their use is often limited to “50th percentile” male and female models. The dimension is typically not explicitly named, but is inferred to be stature. The U.S. population is growing in size and age, which increases the range of abilities and limitations of the workforce. The objective of this study was to improve the understanding of how to better create and utilize digital human models that reflects a worker population that is diverse in stature, weight, and age. Previous research has yet to adequately incorporate this range of human population diversity into human digital modeling used in industrial modeling applications. Through use of CATIA Delmia (Dassault Systémes), a popular digital human modeling software tool, this research investigates how modeling software can be utilized in a number of ways to depict variations in worker size and age, for planning manual assembly and other work tasks. Validation of the models was assessed through filming, questionnaires, and interviews of workers in an automobile assembly plant. This research was able to show the limitations of current applications of human modeling with respect to the age, weight, and stature of a diverse worker population and provides suggestions for how to improve modeling.

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