Passive Exoskeletons and Human Digital Twins: An Integrated Perspective for Ergonomic Improvement

Abstract

There has been a growing interest in the development of innovative technologies to improve health and human performance in work environments. Wearable devices such as exoskeletons are adopted in industries to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries for workers. Computational models that replicate physical and functional characteristics of real individuals, like digital human twins, are increasingly used to simulate and predict human performance in different scenarios. The integration of these two technologies emerges as a promising approach for ergonomic monitoring and predictive analysis. This study aimed to discuss the application of passive exoskeletons and the development of digital human twins for monitoring and predictive analysis related to ergonomic conditions. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive review of the literature on passive exoskeletons, focusing on potential studies that allow integration with digital human twins, as well as a critical and scientific analysis by the authors. Thus, a mapping and data collection analyses demonstrate a variety of applications of exoskeletons, focusing on diversity and potential for integration with digital twins technology. In addition to the plurality of contexts in which these technologies are applied, the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to fully understand their effects and benefits is also highlighted. It was possible to provide valuable insights for researchers, industry professionals, as well as policymakers interested in promoting the use of these technologies to improve working conditions and the well-being of workers.