Ergonomic data collection and analysis
First Claim
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1. A method for monitoring performance of a process, the method comprising:
- receiving acceleration data from wearable nodes, the acceleration data being indicative of movements of the wearable nodes as a person wearing the wearable nodes is engaged in movement associated with a defined and repeatable task, wherein an amplitude of the acceleration data is indicative of a force detected at the wearable nodes;
accumulating the received acceleration data;
analyzing the accumulated acceleration data by comparing the accumulated acceleration data to one or more acceleration thresholds;
determining, based on the analyzing, a pattern of task-related movements indicative of ergonomically unacceptable conditions for the defined and repeatable task;
identifying an ergonomic hot spot based at least in part on the pattern of task-related movements and associating the identified ergonomic hot spot with the pattern; and
sending, to a computing device that is communicatively coupled to the wearable nodes, a message of the identified ergonomic hot spot and the associated pattern of task-related movements.
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Abstract
Techniques for monitoring and detecting ergonomic hot spots associated with movements of subjects are disclosed. For example, data may be collected by way of sensors attached to a plurality of subjects and may be analyzed to determine forces (e.g., vibration, jerks, acceleration, etc.) associated with the movements of the subjects. The analyzed data can be compared to ergonomic conditions to detect the ergonomic hot spots.
18 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring performance of a process, the method comprising:
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receiving acceleration data from wearable nodes, the acceleration data being indicative of movements of the wearable nodes as a person wearing the wearable nodes is engaged in movement associated with a defined and repeatable task, wherein an amplitude of the acceleration data is indicative of a force detected at the wearable nodes; accumulating the received acceleration data; analyzing the accumulated acceleration data by comparing the accumulated acceleration data to one or more acceleration thresholds; determining, based on the analyzing, a pattern of task-related movements indicative of ergonomically unacceptable conditions for the defined and repeatable task; identifying an ergonomic hot spot based at least in part on the pattern of task-related movements and associating the identified ergonomic hot spot with the pattern; and sending, to a computing device that is communicatively coupled to the wearable nodes, a message of the identified ergonomic hot spot and the associated pattern of task-related movements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 21)
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7. A system comprising:
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a first wearable computing device comprising a first accelerometer, the first wearable computing device configured to collect acceleration data caused by movements by a person wearing the first wearable computing device; and a second computing device communicatively coupled to the first computing device, the second computing device configured to; receive the acceleration data from the first wearable computing device as a person wearing the wearable computing device is engaged in movement associated with a defined and repeatable task, wherein an amplitude of the acceleration data is indicative of a force detected at the first wearable computing device; accumulate the received acceleration data; process the received and accumulated acceleration data and one or more thresholds to determine-a pattern of task-related movements indicative of an ergonomically unacceptable condition; identify an ergonomic hot spot based at least in part on the pattern of task-related movements for the defined and repeatable task and associate the identified ergonomic hot spot with the pattern of task-related movements; and generate a warning indicative of the identified ergonomic hot spot and the associated pattern of task-related movements. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed on a system comprising a processor and memory, cause the system to at least:
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receive data indicative of physical movements of a plurality of subjects by way of a plurality of wearable devices attached to the plurality of subjects, wherein an amplitude of the data is indicative of a force detected at the wearable devices; accumulate the received data; analyze at least a subset of the accumulated data by comparing the subset of the data to one or more thresholds; determine, based on the analyzed subset, a pattern of task-related movements indicative of an ergonomically unacceptable condition for a defined and repeatable task; identify an ergonomic hot spot based at least in part on the pattern of task-related movements and associate the identified ergonomic hot spot with the pattern; and send, to one of the wearable devices, a message of the identified ergonomic hot spot and the associated pattern of task-related movements. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification