Workstation Concept Research Articles

Intelligent flexible assembly system for labor-intensive factory using the configurable virtual workstation concept

Intelligent flexible assembly system for labor-intensive factory using the configurable virtual workstation concept

MEGURU: a gesture-based robot program builder for Meta-Collaborative workstations

• Definition and presentation of the novel idea of Meta-Collaborative workstations. • The developed ROS-based software called MEGURU (MEta-collaborative GestUre-based Robot program bUilder) is described in detail. • MEGURU GitHub repository page is supplied. • Experimental evaluation of a demo MEGURU interface to assess the behavior of users of different age, sex and professional background using the developed prototype. • Experimental evaluation of the MEGURU interface in the task of assembling a moka coffee maker, comparing the prototype performances to the Teach Pendant traditional programming method. This paper presents the Meta-Collaborative Workstation concept and a gesture-based robot program builder software named MEGURU. The software is ROS-based, and it is publicly available on GitHub. A hand-gestures language has been developed to create a fast and easy to use communication method, where single-hand gestures are combined to create composed Commands, allowing the user to create a customized, powerful, and flexible Gestures Dictionary. Gestures are recognized using an R-FCN Object Detector model fine-tuned on a custom dataset developed for this work. The system has been tested in two experiments. The first one was aimed at evaluating the user experience of people of different age, sex, and professional background concerning the proposed communication method. The second one was aimed at comparing the traditional teach pendant programming method and MEGURU in the task of assembling a small Moka coffee maker. The results of both experiments highlight that MEGURU is a promising robot programming method, especially for non-expert users.

Props Design on Manual Assembly Lines in Industrial Engineering Design Practicum 3 With Learning Factory Approach

Industry requires educational institutions as providers of labor to continue to optimize the learning process on material that is in harmony with existing cases in the industrial world. The Industrial Engineering Study Program of Sebelas Maret University Surakarta (PSTI-UNS) has sought these demands by implementing integrated practice learning with the learning factory concept approach. Identification of design needs was obtained after observations and evaluations of the learning process on PTI Practicum 3. This study contains requirements in designing tools to accommodate lab work in linear PTI Practicum manuals. The tools needed include storage, hand trolleys, storage racks, and work stations. The selection of the work station concept was carried out with Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with specified selection criteria. The criteria for selecting a tool for practicum facilities include the suitability of learning objectives, material

Postural and Perception Variations When Using Manually Adjustable and Programmable Sit–Stand Workstations in an Emergency Call Center

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSTwo styles of sit–stand workstations were tested in an emergency (911) call center to quantify postural stress and perception variations. The usual manually adjusted electrically controlled sit–stand workstation was compared with a programmable workstation that automatically changed between seated and standing heights, made forward–backward adjustments, and rotated around the user regularly during a 20-minute cycle. Over 2 working days, neck and seated trunk postures improved with the programmable workstation. Manually controlled sit–stand workstations were not adjusted with the regularity recommended to minimize musculoskeletal discomfort. While seven perceptual measures did not significantly vary between workstations, two others worsened with the programmable workstation: general discomfort and back pain. Participant comments suggested opportunities for design refinements. User training was not included here but would normally further improve results. The programmable workstation improved posture over the manually adjusted workstation, although design refinements and user training in office ergonomics are recommended to maximize benefits.TECHNICAL ABSTRACT Background: Call center workers have high musculoskeletal discomfort, and emergency (911) center workers are among the most affected. Despite many centers including manually controlled sit–stand workstations that facilitate postural changes, these are not typically adjusted with the regularity recommended to minimize musculoskeletal discomfort. Thus, underuse or improper use may be barriers to preventing musculoskeletal disorders and discomfort. Purpose: This study investigates posture and perception of physical factors when using a powered dual-surface manually adjustable workstation and a powered programmable adjustable workstation. Methods: Twelve 911 call-center operators participated. For each workstation, postures were recorded using video cameras over a working day. Nine perception factors were captured at the end of each day using a visual analog scale. Results: Programmable workstation use resulted in significantly lower incidence of at-risk postures in the neck and back and more frequent standing. Perception did not vary significantly between workstations except for an increase in back pain and general discomfort with the programmable workstation. Conclusions: This limited sample exposure to a programmable moving workstation concept should be pursued, though with refinements in larger populations to improve musculoskeletal health of workers in high-stress sedentary environments and should be combined with training. Current observations may be applied to improve programmable workstation aspects that are contributing to perceived discomforts.

Design of 3DOF Footrest to Increase Comfort of Computer Workstation

In recent years computer has become a tool that cannot be separated from our life. As long as we are working on computers, the comfort of the workstation become important since improper position leads to repetitive strain injuries. In this research avoiding discomfort is approached by making a workstation capable of changing working positions. So, a new workstation concept was designed to create a comfortable computer work experience in which a user can work in different working position at a single workstation. In this paper the design of the footrest and its effect in comfort of workstation is discussed. The footrest had 3 degrees of freedom and its positions were controlled by three linear actuators. Evaluation results in four different working positions showed that flexible footrest has a great impact on the comfort of seated computer work. It increased comfort in thigh, leg and foot relative to a standard workstation without footrest.

Complementarities of digital human models and ergonomic work analysis in workstation design: the manual packaging task

This study demonstrates how digital human models and ergonomic work analysis (EWA) can be integrated in the process of designing a new workstation. To this end, this paper examines the application of human simulation technology during an ergonomic intervention, which included the design of a new workstation concept with new technical artefacts. Simulation was used to test some of the design variables and to aid communication among the actors. The environments were designed in AutoCAD 2010 (Autodesk) and then imported to Delmia V5R18 (Dassault Systemes) to simulate the static tests (variables such as posture) and the dynamic tests (animations). The main findings indicate that digital human simulation is an important tool to aid workstation design and to anticipate situations in future work activities. This case study revealed that the integrated use of EWA and simulation enabled workers to participate and interact as people directly responsible for planning work activities.

Work Station Concept Design for Human Factors

This report outlines the concept design for a workstation to support assembly of an accessory drive bracket to a Hemi-engine. The concept design is predominantly from evaluating the work station for human factors, such as repetitive tasks of lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, type of environment at the work station and effect on operator(s) or human(s) in terms of performing consistently the tasks outlined to be performed at this work station. The proposed workstation design provides a possible layout along with the analysis of what steps this entity can take to ensure the operations at this workstation are performed consistently and produce quality outputs.

Optical workstation with concurrent, independent multiphoton imaging and experimental laser microbeam capabilities

Experimental laser microbeam techniques have become established tools for studying living specimens. A steerable, focused laser beam may be used for a variety of experimental manipulations such as laser microsurgery, optical trapping, localized photolysis of caged bioactive probes, and patterned photobleaching. Typically, purpose-designed experimental systems have been constructed for each of these applications. In order to assess the consequences of such experimental optical interventions, long-term, microscopic observation of the specimen is often required. Multiphoton excitation, because of its ability to obtain high-contrast images from deep within a specimen with minimal phototoxic effects, is a preferred technique for in vivo imaging. An optical workstation is described that combines the functionality of an experimental optical microbeam apparatus with a sensitive multiphoton imaging system designed for use with living specimens. Design considerations are discussed and examples of ongoing biological applications are presented. The integrated optical workstation concept offers advantages in terms of flexibility and versatility relative to systems implemented with separate imaging and experimental components.

Tele-operator support for fusion plant maintenance: The EDITH remote workstation

To support the tele-operator in fusion plant maintenance as flexibly and completely as possible at a high level a general purpose remote handling workstation concept has been developed and partly implemented. The remote handling workstation provides the man-machine interface and task level support functions. Task level support of the operator is based on the task knowledge represented as spatial models, procedure models, and functional models. These models and the related simulation systems are used for planning, execution, monitoring, training, and recovery. The workstation represents an intelligent, interactive, multi-media handbook guiding the operator through planned procedures and in abnormal situations. As a prototypic implementation of this workstation concept the EDITH remote workstation is being implemented for the EDITH (experimental device for in-torus handling) remote workstation.

Real Time Digital Strip Chart Emulation

The efficiency of range telemetry, as currently practiced, is somewhat limited by the available display technology. The manpower, space and accuracy problems associated with current methods are examined, and the limitations of some new approaches are discussed The concept of Real Time Digital Strip Chart Emulation (RTDSCE), as exemplified by the ES2000 System, and the benefits inherent to such a technical approach are presented and discussed in detail These benefits include reduction of manpower and space requirements by the use of the workstation concept, the elimination of D/A conversion by direct recording of digitised signals, and the facilitation of critical realtime viewing through high resolution video monitoring.

Designing a computer workstation for researchers in the quantitative social sciences

This paper reviews the applicability of the workstation concept to the tasks undertaken by quantitative social scientists and provides an outline of the software to be found on such a workstation.

A concept for a GKS machine

General ideas for the creation of a very intelligent graphic terminal are presented; this terminal should know all GKS functionalities, including the future 3-D Standard as well. Multiple Workstation concept is maintained, and it is realized by linking it to a multiple context-frame handling.

A Workstation Concept for Computer Aided Analysis and Design of Control Systems

The KEDDC software package for computer-aided analysis and control systems design, developed at Ruhr-University, Bochum, F.R.G. is presently being prepared for a supermicro-based workstation implementation. A bit map display plays a key role for the design of a concurrent user environment, where mixed alphanumerics and graphics arc used to handle a comprehensive system of control tools in a natural way for control engineers.

Graphics standardization

The big challenge for a graphics standardization project is to realise a truly device independent graphics package which nevertheless allows for unrestricted use of facilities offered by a particular device. In 1980, it was reported at a SIGGRAPH session that the Graphics Working Group of ISO (ISO/TC97/SC5/WG2) had decided to define a 2D core-like standard based on the DIN GKS proposal. At the same session, a new concept was introduced called a workstation, which was to be a basis for achieving device independence in GKS. In the two years of reviewing which has since taken place, the workstation concept has been further developed and as a result has become much more important than it was, say, in the 1979 version of GKS. The workstation supports a two stage abstraction mechanism for input and output primitives, especially with respect to their attributes (including transformations). In this way, every aspect which can be dealt with in a similar manner for each device (e.g. purely geometric information) is moved up to the higher abstraction level and called workstation independent. Aspects with a limited device independence, which apply only to certain classes of devices (e.g. colour) are in the lower level of abstraction and are called workstation dependent. Following this two level abstraction, a two level mapping is defined in GKS, leading to two classes of functions: those addressing all active workstations at the same time (w.s. independent) and those addressing a particular work station (identified by a parameter). Workstations are now allowed to differ in the value ranges for the attributes they support. The two-level mapping provides setting of an abstract primitive attribute which is next either applied on the same abstract level, or subsequently mapped on the most appropriate value available for each individual workstation. The second mapping can also be controlled by workstation functions. In this way, two workstations can, for example, provide a different presentation of the same abstract picture simply by selecting different representations for various attributes (e.g. quick and dirty versus high quality). Moreover, they can also provide a “best likeness” picture by selecting an appropriate combination of attributes with the same visual effect (for example, each workstation may provide different means for generating the same text-font). It will be illustrated why this uniform scheme for a two level attribute mechanism was to be developed beyong current practice in order to get a satisfactory solution for device independence. A further basic facility derived from the workstation concept is the ability to configure a workstation out of abstract devices (i.e. 0 or 1 output plus 0 or more input devices). Most input devices depend for their user feedback, on the output devices available. All inputs that need the same output device are now integrated into one work station. Again, the two level structure is very helpful. All configuration aspects of providing prompts and echoes are local to the workstation. They can be controlled via abstract functions which are mapped on physical realisation at the workstation. Echoes and prompts as well as other aspects for input are treated like workstation dependent attributes. Here also, the ISO reviewing process has brought about new concepts and methods which will be presented and illustrated in this session. The European members of ISO especially, are very satisfied with these achievements and are developing further on the basis of GKS.

The workstation concept of GKS and the resulting conceptual differences to the GSPC core system

GKS has evolved from a long process of national /1,2,3,4/ and international /5,6/ discussion on standardization of graphical systems. One of the basic principles of the Graphical Kernel System GKS is the concept of workstations that are used to address a display terminal with several input devices. This is a basic conceptual difference to the GSPC core system /6/, which will be discussed in this paper. A workstation represents a collection of graphical devices that are operated in a coordinated fashion by an operator at a given site. The whole workstation is treated in GKS as one logical unit. GKS features two dimensional output to and input from single or multiple workstations. Besides basic line drawing primitives raster graphics primitives are supported. The coordinates are transformed in a two-stage transformation process where the first stage can be set for each primitive and the second can be set for each workstation. Furthermore the setting of a workstation specific pen and text table allows control of the appearance of all primitives on the corresponding workstation. A segment facility provides means for structuring a picture in subparts. Segments may be created and deleted, the segment attributes may be dynamically modified, and the segments may be transformed. They can be displayed simultaneously or alternatively on different workstations. A device independent segment storage serves for inserting segments into other segments.

Central Supply: Planning the Central Service Department: Third in a three-part series: The Work-Station Concept

Central Supply: <i>Planning the Central Service Department: Third in a three-part series</i>: The Work-Station Concept