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Journals / Gazi Üniversitesi Mühendislik Mimarlık Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 41 Sayı: 1

Application of digital human modeling and experimental design for ergonomic risk optimization in a human-robot collaboration workstation

İnsan-robot işbirliği içeren bir istasyonda ergonomik risk optimizasyonu için dijital insan modellemesi ve deney tasarımının uygulanması

Büşra Nur Yetkin(Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi)0000-0002-4963-5483
Berna Haktanırlar Ulutaş(ESKİŞEHİR OSMANGAZİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-0026-4925
Pages
1–16
Publication Date
2026-02-19
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The methodology shows the advantages of combining digital modelling tools, and statistical design approaches like Design of Experiments.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Human-robot collaboration applications has the potential to reduce the workload and to foster better working conditions.
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Key Findings & Data:Controllable design parameters that may influence the physical risks are defined as number of cobots, task complexity, human’ s anthropometric characteristics and product features. 64 experiments were modelled for different configurations.
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Conclusion & Impact:The methodology shows the advantages of combining digital modelling tools, and statistical design approaches like Design of Experiments.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:İnsan-robot işbirliği · ergonomik risk · dijital insan modelleme

Abstract

Human-robot collaboration applications has the potential to reduce the workload and to foster better working conditions. However, developing robotic applications that improve ergonomic criteria is not a simple problem. In this study, a methodology is proposed to guide the development and evaluation of ergonomics-oriented collaborative workstations. The methodology consists of four steps: (i) modeling the workstation in JACK software and running the simulation, (ii) evaluating ergonomic risks (iii) determining the inputs and responses to improve ergonomic risks (iv) collecting data by design of experiments and finding the optimal solution by multi-response optimization. This methodology is applied to a gear pump product in the automotive industry. Controllable design parameters that may influence the physical risks are defined as number of cobots, task complexity, human’ s anthropometric characteristics and product features. 64 experiments were modelled for different configurations. Multi-objective optimization technique applied for five different performance measures that are characterized as cumulative compression, cumulative low back moment exposure on L4/L5, energy expenditure rate, and cycle time. The effects of factors on the responses are discussed including cost analyses. Finally, a simplified model is proposed. The methodology shows the advantages of combining digital modelling tools, and statistical design approaches like Design of Experiments.

Özet

İnsan-robot iş birliği uygulamalarının temel ilgi çekici özelliklerinden biri, işçinin iş yükünü hafifletme ve çalışma koşullarını güçlendirme potansiyelidir. Ancak, ergonomik kriterleri iyileştiren robotik uygulamaları geliştirmek basit bir problem değildir. Bu çalışmada ergonomi odaklı işbirlikçi istasyonlarının geliştirilmesine ve değerlendirilmesine rehberlik edecek bir metodoloji önerilmiştir. Metodoloji dört adımdan oluşmaktadır: (i) iş istasyonunun JACK yazılımında modellenmesi ve simülasyonun çalıştırılması, (ii) ergonomik risklerin değerlendirilmesi, (iii) ergonomik koşulları ve çevrim süresini iyileştirmek için faktör ve yanıtların belirlenmesi ve (iv) deney tasarımı ile veri toplanması ve çok yanıtlı optimizasyon ile optimal tasarım parametrelerinin bulunması. Metodoloji otomotiv endüstrisinde montajı yaygın olan dişli pompa ürünü için uygulanmıştır. Fiziksel ergonomik riskleri ve çevrim süresini etkileyebileceği düşünülen tasarım parametreleri; cobotların sayısı, görev karmaşıklığı, insanın antropometrik özellikleri ve ürün özellikleri olarak tanımlanmıştır. Faktör seviyelerinin farklı konfigürasyonları için 64 deney modellenmiştir. Birikimli sıkışma, L4/L5 omur eksenlerinde birikimli bel moment maruziyeti, enerji tüketimi ve çevrim süresi olarak tanımlanan dört farklı performans ölçümü için istenirlik fonksiyonu (desirability function) kullanılarak çok amaçlı optimizasyon uygulanmıştır. Girdi faktörlerinin yanıtlar üzerindeki etkileri tartışılmış ve maliyet analizleri ile değerlendirilmiştir. Son olarak en riskli ve öncelikli etkilere odaklanan sadeleştirilmiş bir model önerilmiştir. Geliştirilen metodoloji, dijital insan modellemesi ve deney tasarımı gibi istatistiksel yaklaşımları birleştirmenin uygulanabilirliğini ve avantajlarını göstermiştir.

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Cite This Article

Yetkin, B. N., Ulutaş, B. H. (2026). Application of digital human modeling and experimental design for ergonomic risk optimization in a human-robot collaboration workstation. Gazi Üniversitesi Mühendislik Mimarlık Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 41 Sayı: 1, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.17341/gazimmfd.1544644

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