Optimal posture prediction in brick stacking operation for reducing ergonomic risk factor

Abstract

Ergonomic risk factors are vital for posture prediction of human, working in manual assembly is founded on the human movements at each joint to decrease energy level and fatigue level of the worker. In this study a simple measure of human performance is introduced that permits the mathematical model to assess the cost functions. Here human is modeled as a structure of 20 DOF. The necessary procedure is the evaluation of the performance in the system of cost factors. Here two main cost factors are considered as discomfort factor and energy expenditure rate in different limbs movement. The basic objective is to optimize the limb movements to the cost factors. The above procedure is verified through a example case of fly ash bricks plant. Here two workers are stacking bricks in stacking pan. A Multi Objective Optimization (MOO) technique is utilized for the prediction of posture, in which cost factors are minimalized, ultimately reduced level of ergonomic risk factor.