Wearable Knee Assistive Devices for Kneeling Tasks in Construction

Construction workers regularly perform tasks that require kneeling, crawling, and squatting. Working in awkward kneeling postures for prolonged time periods can lead to knee pain, injuries, osteoarthritis. In this article, we present lightweight, wearable sensing, assistive devices construction during squatting tasks. Analysis of on level sloped surfaces (0 ° , 10 20 ) is performed single- double-leg Measurements from the integrated inertial measurement units are used real-time gait detection lower limb pose estimation. Detected events estimation control joint torque provided by lightweight exoskeletons with powerful quasi-direct drive actuation. Human subject experiments conducted validate effectiveness proposed analysis design. The results show reduction extension/flexion muscle activation (up 39%) stand-to-kneel kneel-to-stand Knee-ground contact forces/pressures also reduced 15%) under robotic assistance single-leg kneeling. Increasing shows redistribution subject's weight ground both supporting feet. system provides an enabling intervention potentially reduce musculoskeletal injury risks workers.