Abstract
This paper proposes a comprehensive evaluation of multiple muscle loads and procedure for determining optimum solutions for ergonomic design problems. The comprehensive evaluation of multiple muscle loads are formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem, and the optimum solutions of each participant are obtained. In addition, determination of the optimum solution is formulated as a min-max problem. The proposed method is applied to the design problem of handrails position for the sit-to-stand movement. The height and distance of handrails were the design variables, and surface electromyography of anterior deltoid, triceps brachii, rectus femoris, and tibialis anterior were measured. Result from the optimization, it is found that the comprehensive evaluation proposed in this study probably expresses the sense of the participants more precisely than the use of any of the muscle loads. In addition, the optimum solution for all participants is determined, and the validity of the proposed method is examined.
