Evaluation of assistive effect of the semi-crouching assist device based on posture and assistive force information during agricultural work.

Abstract

This paper describes evaluation of assistive effect of the Semi-Crouching Assist Device based on posture and assist force information during agricultural work. The Semi-Crouching Assistive Device generates assist force by the rubber-less artificial muscle. We propose a method of evaluating the assisted effect of assist devices other than the method based on EMG. In this method, we estimate the compressive force of the intervertebral disc from the actual assist force and work posture data during agricultural work. From the estimation results, it was found that the assist device under development has the effect of exerting an assist effect in actual farm work and reducing the compressive force of the intervertebral disc.