E![113330], ED-VIMA, Industrial Path Solutions

Important results from the project

The purpose of the project is to be able to conduct ergonomic studies of manual assemblies entirely in a virtual setting and thus contribute to reducing physical prototype construction and avoid assemblies with poor ergonomics, which in the long run leads to sick leave and costs for companies and society at large. Those goals are well met in the realized software prototype. The digital assemblies take place in a Virtual Reality environment in the simulation software IPS, with a clear focus on flexible components and analysis possibilities of ergonomics in post-processing steps.

Expected long term effects

The concrete results of the research and development in the project are realized in a software prototype built on top of the simulation platform IPS. Advanced simulation functionality for realistic simulation of assembly situations in Virtual Reality is made available to engineers and ergonomists who work with planning manual production assemblies, such that they can validate designs and assemblies at an earlier stage than before. Significant cost savings are made through reduced wear and tear due to poor assembly ergonomics and less construction of physical prototypes.

Approach and implementation

The project has been carried out in 8 different work packages where WP1 and WP2 contained project management, technology assessments and project planning, WP3 and WP4 haptics of flexibles and hand interactions with flexible components, WP5 digital human modelling part of haptics concerning flexibles, WP6 touched upon ergonomic assessments and different frameworks, WP7 software development and WP8 setting up VR demonstrators with different use cases from industry. The arrangement worked well and a strong software prototype is now realized on top of the simulation software IPS.