Revolutionary Insights: Bionic Analytics Reveals the True Power of Exoskeletons through Motion-Mining® Data

For two years now, we at MotionMiners have been working hand in hand with Ottobock Bionic Exoskeletons to take a pioneering step towards an ergonomic and health-conscious working environment. Our partnership aims to explore the potential of exoskeletons in industry while optimizing the impact of this technology on employees and work processes. With our innovative Motion Mining® technology and Ottobock's exoskeletons, together we are shaping a future in which work is not only more productive, but also health-promoting.

Since 2018, Ottobock Bionic Exoskeletons has worked continuously on the development and production of Paexo exoskeletons. This technology enables people to perform their professional tasks without putting their own health at risk.
One of the main goals is to offer ergonomic and technical solutions that improve the long-term well-being of employees in the workplace.

The modern working world is facing ever-increasing challenges - both physical and ergonomic. In the pursuit of efficiency and the health of their own employees, MotionMiners GmbH and Ottobock Bionic Exoskeletons have joined forces in an innovative alliance.

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A partnership that shapes the future

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Since 2018, Ottobock Bionic Exoskeletons has been developing and producing the impressive range of Paexo exoskeletons. The goal behind this groundbreaking technology is clear: to enable people to perform their occupational activities in a long-term manner that is gentle on their health. From overhead work to load handling in the logistics industry - the Paexo exoskeletons offer customized solutions for a wide range of applications.

In 2017, Sascha Kaczmarek, Sascha Feldhorst and René Grzeszick founded MotionMiners. This technology enables companies to perform analyses on efficiency and ergonomics in order to optimize manual work processes.

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Exoskeletons as pioneers for ergonomics and health
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Imagine you work in the logistics industry, where packages of considerable weight have to be moved every day. This repetitive physical effort can lead to serious back problems in the long run. But that's where exoskeletons come in - wearable support structures that redistribute weight and relieve strain on the body. With the Paexo exoskeletons, Ottobock has created a groundbreaking solution to minimize such strain.

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Joint mission for ergonomic work

The partnership between Ottobock and MotionMiners aims to make everyday work as comfortable and ergonomic as possible for employees. While Ottobock's exoskeletons ensure that work can be done from the knees rather than the back, for example, Motion-Mining ® technology takes over the measurement of optimization potential and success.

The collection of qualitative data (employee questionnaires) and quantitative data (Motion Mining® analysis) provides a more transparent process overview. Based on comparative measurements, the ergonomic advantages of the exoskeletons are clarified.

In the measurements within Bionic Analytics, companies are interested in the following point: How does the use of exoskeletons affect the employees and the process?

- Do you assume a different body posture when wearing the exoskeletons?

- Are they more efficient over the period of manual activity with exoskeletons?

- How much relief can we measure and evaluate ergonomically?

The comparative data (measurements with and without exoskeleton) provide data on the effect of exoskeleton use, how much relief can be recorded and whether the process is more efficient through the use of exoskeletons.

Companies often face the challenge that the investment decision for this type of assistive device is not quantifiable.Our Motion Mining® data closes this gap and creates an ergonomic picture of the process at the end of theBionic Analytics and quantifies the before and after effect of this small exoskeleton study.

Our close collaboration with ottobock is an example of how innovation and cooperation can positively change the world of work. The integration of exoskeletons into work processes and the data-supported analysis of the motion miners not only promotes the health of employees, but also increases efficiency.

Thanks to this collaboration, the vision of an ergonomic and productive working world is coming closer.
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Process of Bionic Analytics
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Our BIONIC ANALYTICS includes the accompanied use of the Paexo Backs for six to eight weeks and the test-accompanying measurement with Motion Mining® technology. The work of the employees is analyzed for 15 working days with and without the exoskeleton.
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Week of measurement without exoskeleton:

In the first phase of our project, we start with a week of measurements during which employees performed their usual tasks without the use of exoskeletons. This initial situation should provide us with a clear basis for later quantifying and evaluating the improvements resulting from the use of the technology.

Week of measurements Familiarization with exoskeletons : Employees:familiarize themselves with the exoskeletons while performing their daily tasks. This familiarization period allowed team members to adapt to the new work processes and the support provided by the exoskeletons.

Analysis: Comparison of the weeks with and without exoskeletons through ergonomic evaluation using the leading characteristic method.

Once the measurement phases have been completed, the next step is to analyze the data obtained. With the help of the tried-and-tested leading characteristic method, which was developed specifically for ergonomic evaluations, the work processes in the different weeks are compared. This method enables an objective evaluation of the ergonomic improvements achieved through the use of the exoskeletons. In particular, it also highlights how high the ergonomic risk currently is for the employees in the processes and how comfortable they are to wear. The effect on the posture is also an interesting point, which is an indication of the overall load on the employees.

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Results: Presentation of the qualitative and quantitative benefits of exoskeletons in both processes in the form of the analysis results.

Both qualitative and quantitative data show the positive impact of the exoskeletons on the way employees work. The results of the analysis presented a clear picture of how the introduction of the exoskeletons reduces stress, optimizes work processes and increases the well-being of team members.

Bionic Analytics help your company quantify overall relief as well as search for effects for reduced fatigue and achieve positive effects on your cycle times or other process metrics.

The project flow from measurement week to measurement week illustrates the gradual progress towards a more efficient, ergonomic and health-conscious work environment. Bionic Analytics revealed the impressive possibilities opened up by the symbiosis of advanced exoskeletons and precise Motion Mining® data. The results of this project represent an important milestone, demonstrating not only the benefits of exoskeletons, but also the power of analytics to quantify and understand these changes.