Development of soft wearable robotic gloves to prevent muscle fatigue and enhance work efficiency

Abstract

This study aimed to develop wearable robotic gloves that can provide comfort to logistics and transportation workers while providing hand assistance and addressing accumulated muscle fatigue caused by repetitive manual handling tasks. Two types of gloves, rivet-type and pouch-type were developed and evaluated using the nine-hole peg test (NHPT) and grip strength tests. Results showed rivet-type gloves had better dexterity, with an 8.14% faster NHPT time, and maintained 85% grip strength compared to 80% for pouch-type gloves, even after fatigue exercises. Wearability tests were conducted by measuring clothing pressure and brainwaves. In contrast to the functional experimental results, the pouch-type gloves exhibited significant decreases in clothing pressure during actuation. According to the difference in brain waves in the frontal lobe region, the beta and gamma waves observed when wearing pouch-type gloves were lower than those of rivet-type gloves, and pouch-type gloves exhibited higher alpha-wave results than rivet-type gloves. These results imply that participants were in a comparatively relaxed state when wearing pouch-type gloves. A wearer’s evaluation survey on the overall design, function, comfort, safety, ease of use, usefulness, and use intention was conducted. In summary, the rivet-type gloves exhibited better results in hand performance while the pouch-type gloves showed advantages in wearability, suggesting a tradeoff relationship between force transmission and wearer comfort. The results of this study aimed to improve the work efficiency at logistics and transportation industry sites and help improve the welfare of workers.