Investigation of Avionics Box Precision Placement Using Motion Capturing and Thermal Imaging Techniques

There have been an abundance of lifting studies performed throughout the history of biomechanical analysis however, there are few studies that have looked at the biomechanics of placing a box on a target or within a restricted space. Of those studies, none have looked at the human’s ability to precisely place the box, and none have considered precise placement in restricted space. Furthermore, the human lifting capabilities and limitations is lacking in the design standards used for avionics box and shelf arrangements, and past avionics box and shelf arrangements developed for the Space Shuttle have led to hardware damage during avionics box installations. Thus, the focus of this study is to use motion capture along with thermal imaging techniques to explore and describe the kinematics, EMG, and thermal variations during the lifting and precise placement of an avionics box in restricted space.