Assessment of an arm-support exoskeleton on physical demands, task performance, and usability during simulated agricultural tasks

This laboratory-based study aimed to determine whether an arm-support exoskeleton (ASE) would be an effective intervention to reduce the physical strain associated with manual agricultural work. Twenty-four (gender-balanced) participants performed pruning and harvesting tasks (at four different heights: knee, elbow, shoulder, and overhead), lifting/lowering, and Timed Up & Go (TUG) tasks with and without an ASE. During these tasks, muscle activity (in the upper trapezius, anterior deltoid, biceps brachii, and erector spinae), task completion time, perceived exertion, and usability were assessed. The results indicated a significant reduction (31.7%–60.2%) in muscle activity, particularly in the upper trapezius and anterior deltoid, when using the ASE during tasks at shoulder work height or above. However, there was an observed increase in muscle strain in the erector spinae, suggesting potential risk to the lower back. Given these findings, a more rigorous evaluation of ASEs in agricultural tasks should be pursued before implementing exoskeletons in agricultural tasks to avoid unintended health hazards. A relatively new application of exoskeleton technology, extensively studied in fields like rehabilitation, manufacturing, and the military, is its use in agriculture. This study details the physical requirements of specific tasks to offer insights into the challenges that exoskeleton technologies for agriculture may encounter.