Virtual reality tools and methods for the improvement of ergonomics and safety in manufacturing systems

Ergonomics and Safety are more and more recognised as crucial aspects in the design of manufacturing systems. Indeed, it is understood that digital humans simulations can be very useful to evaluate the Workplace Health and Safety. Moreover, reliability and safety are of great importance when human beings and robots need to share their workspaces to collaboratively perform a specific task. The tutorial will be focused on virtual reality tools and methods, whose application in the design of manufacturing processes can improve the human condition in a factory. Through the use of appropriate industrial case studies, ergonomics and safety issues concerning to manual workcells and Human-Robot hybrid workcells will be illustrated. Furthermore, innovative Virtual Design Review systems will be presented in which product designers and production engineers can cooperate also remotely in order to share their expertise and evaluate critical situations in an assembly line, since the first phases of the product development process.