Industrial application of DHM for ergonomics driven by low cost mocap solutions

This paper concerns the development of a computer-aided platform to analyse workers’ postures and movements and ergonomically validate the design of device or the condition a man or woman may deal with. In particular, we refer to two different applications: pick and place operations of food items on a display unit and gait analysis. The paper describes two low-cost solutions that integrate two optical motion capture systems (one based on web-cam and another on MS Kinect sensor) with the main goal of determining the suitability of operators’ working conditions and, eventually, providing a feedback to designers. Preliminary results of the experimentation as well as main benefits and limits are presented. The results have been considered promising; however, we have planned to perform an acquisition campaign in the real environment and the comparison with optical marker Mocap systems.