Title: Creating and shaping the DHM tool IMMA for ergonomic product and production design

Authors: Dan Högberg; Lars Hanson; Robert Bohlin; Johan S. Carlson

Addresses: School of Engineering Science, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden ' Industrial Development, Scania, Södertälje, Sweden; School of Engineering Science, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden; Department of Product and Production Development, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden ' Fraunhofer-Chalmers Research Centre for Industrial Mathematics, Gothenburg, Sweden ' Fraunhofer-Chalmers Research Centre for Industrial Mathematics, Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract: The history, status and outlook of the research and development actions associated with the creation of the digital human modelling tool intelligently moving manikins (IMMA) are described. The underlying fundamental concepts are described and research and development results so far are illustrated or referred to. Two case studies illustrating use of IMMA on industry-based problems are described. The paper also covers reflections on conceptions for prospective DHM tool developments from a general perspective, relating to areas of ergonomics and design methodology, as well as describing some of the plans for further developments and applications of the IMMA tool. These may be of assistance when identifying challenges for future research and development of DHM tools that are used in product and production design processes in industry.

Keywords: digital human modelling; DHM; product design; production design; ergonomics; design methodology; simulation; intelligently moving manikins; IMMA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDH.2016.077413

International Journal of the Digital Human, 2016 Vol.1 No.2, pp.132 - 152

Received: 05 Jun 2015
Accepted: 12 Feb 2016

Published online: 29 Jun 2016 *

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