Safety and Risk Management in Designing for the Lifecycle of an Exoskeleton: A Novel Process Developed in the Robo-Mate Project

Abstract

Even in our modern and high-tech manufacturing industry, it is often difficult to automate industrial processes which necessities the involvement of human workers. Subsequently, workers are exposed to factors that increase their risk of injury, particular experiencing Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). In addition to contributing to workplace absenteeism and disability rates, injured workers have a negative impact on job productivity and quality. While earlier research and development of exoskeletons is targeted at military and rehabilitation, there is a shifting of interest to target industrial settings. Targeting industrial environments, the Robo-Mate consortium aims to develop a lightweight, flexible, easy-to-wear, easy-to-maneuver, and intelligent exoskeleton that augments the user's personal capabilities while accommodating their physical limitations. The safety of industrial worker exoskeletons is an emerging topic in legislation and standardization. Guidance from standards is only partially possible since no standard exists for industrial exoskeleton technology. This presents a challenging task since an exoskeleton combines technological characteristics of robots (collaborative), machines and appliances, and is used in proximity to and has close contact with the human body. The innovative character of the Robo-Mate technology requires a multidisciplinary approach to the identification of risk and usability while addressing both product safety and workplace safety. This requires a novel safety management approach that governs the life cycle of this new kind of product. This paper will discuss the risk management approach the Robo-Mate project developed and the resulting leading scenarios.