Process Simulate Versus Inertial Mocap System in Human Movement Evaluation

There are various tools for evaluating physical ergonomics. Two main computer-assisted approaches can be recognized in the literature: analytical evaluation using simulation software like Siemens Jack or Process Simulate, and empirical evaluation by tracking human body movement. Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. This article compares an analytical method using Process Simulate software and an empirical evaluation using an inertial motion tracking system and highlights the strengths and limitations of both approaches. The information from the tracking system is processed by the Process Simulate software and an ad-hoc ergonomic analysis module developed in Unity. Given the limited license of Process Simulate, the ergonomic comparison is performed using two indices, RULA and OWAS. Other comparison metrics discussed in the article are the time required for the analysis, the additional functionality each solution offers and the possibility of augmenting the assessment with virtual or augmented reality solutions. The results show some limitations of using Process Simulate with the tracking data and the great versatility of the solution developed in Unity