Usability and Biomechanical Testing of Passive Exoskeletons for Construction Workers: A Field-Based Pilot Study

The labor-intensive nature of the construction industry requires workers to frequently perform physically demanding manual work, thereby exposing them risk musculoskeletal injury (approximately 31.2 cases per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers). Exoskeletons and exosuits (collectively called EXOs here) are designed protect from these injuries by reducing exertion muscle fatigue during work. However, usability in is still not clear. This because extant EXO assessments were mainly conducted laboratory environments with test participants who professionals. In this research, we a pilot study investigate real workplace. Four experienced recruited push/empty gondolas without Back-Support EXO, HeroWear Apex. Three install/remove wooden blocks between steel studs two Arm-Support EXOs, i.e., Ekso EVO Hilti EXO-001. Their motions, postures, heart rates, task completion times recorded compared. also surveyed gather their attitudes toward EXO’s usefulness ease use. results demonstrated that responded use differently consequently unanimously favor adoption practice. preliminary findings help building foundation understanding improve products fit needs foster EXO-enabled tasks future.