Cognitive-motor interference during exoskeleton use (CoExo)

• Applicants: Professor Dr.-Ing. Robert Sebastian Weidner; Professorin Dr. Bettina Wollesen
• Subject Area: Human Factors, Ergonomics, Human-Machine Systems ; Production Automation and Assembly Technology ; Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 565201563

Exoskeletons for supporting different parts of the user's body are increasingly conquering various fields of application in the industrial environment. In addition to the morphological structure, the support properties (e.g., movement- and position-dependent) are crucial for precise movements and right support as well as should not generate cognitive-motor interference (CMI; for simultaneous motor and cognitive tasks). While biomechanical aspects (e.g., muscle activity) have already been investigated, neural correlates of SMI in simple or complex tasks using an exoskeleton have been less considered. Therefore, in three planned studies ((1) evaluation of the influencing variables of the resource allocation model, (2) evaluation of developed functionalities and (3) evaluation of AI functionality in complex work scenarios), the project systematically investigates different intelligence levels (IL) – under which different support characteristics are referred to – of exoskeletons with regard to motor and cognitive performance at work. The chosen project approach combines engineering methods with psychological and biomechanical analyses. For the technical implementation, the self-developed Lucy exoskeleton for shoulder support is being further developed and validated with regard to the functionalities (ILs) developed in the project. The experiments integrate the simulation of real work tasks on the basis of existing applications.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants