Multi-user VR ergonomic assessment: feasibility of using multi-user VR for ergonomics studies in manufacturing environments

Abstract

This thesis studies the limitations and solutions of VR for ergonomics assessment as well as assesses the advantages and disadvantages of using Multi-user VR for ergonomic assessments. As industries attempt to improve workplace ergonomics, utilizing cutting-edge technologies could increase the efficacy of these assessments. This research explores the capabilities of multi-user VR to enable collaborative ergonomic studies, permitting multiple evaluators to interact within a simulated environment in real-time. Such integration could significantly boost the precision and efficiency of ergonomic assessments. This thesis assesses the potential and difficulties of integrating VR and multi-user VR in ergonomic assessments using an extensive methodology that includes a literature study, expert interviews, and a validation case study. Multi-user VR improves collaborative analysis, and by allowing remote evaluations and doing away with the requirement for physical prototypes, VR drastically cuts down on the time and expense involved in traditional ergonomic assessments. The study does, however, also point out a number of difficulties such as the requirement for improved sensory feedback and more realistic interaction features in VR environments. For VR technology to be widely adopted and effective in ergonomic assessments, these issues must be resolved. The ergonomic assessments can be more precise as well as done faster with help of advanced VR technologies, which will increase the productivity and safety of manufacturing plants. This thesis lays the groundwork for more research into improving how VR is used in ergonomic assessments and expanding its use across different industries.

Outgoing