Construction of estimation method of upper limb load without force sensor

Abstract

It is important to quantitatively evaluate the usability of a product based on biomechanical load to a human. In general, force sensors and electromyography are used to evaluate mechanical load to the upper limb. However, this method requires embedding force sensor in the product. The purpose of this study was estimating physical load without the force sensor. First, the myoelectric potential and the joint angle were measured when gripping a fixed pipe and applying force. Then, the joint moment and muscle force were calculated based on a musculo-skeletal model. The mechanical relationship between measured hand force and smoothed electromyography was identified as a process of calibration. As an estimation process, reaction force on the hand was estimated from the calibration results.