Exoskeleton Use During Lifting Tasks May Impair Physical and Cognitive Performances among Novice Users

Exoskeleton use may deteriorate the user’s performance on physical and cognitive tasks due to additional task demands, obstructed movement, and increased mental workload. This study examined if using unpowered exoskeletons during lifting tasks led to declines in performance on the visual attention and lifting tasks among novice users. Thirty-two participants who had no prior experience with exoskeletons completed stoop and squat lifting tasks with and without the use of back- and leg -support exoskeletons, during which they also had to detect the visual target presented in varying locations in the visual field. The results indicated that exoskeleton use led to slower lifting task performance and increased target detection errors. The findings suggest that novice users may experience physical interference, discomfort, and increased mental workload while wearing an exoskeleton.