Thermal Analysis on Exoskeleton-Assisted Manual Operations in a Construction Site by Infrared Thermography

Wearable exoskeletons are increasingly adopted to reduce physical strain and improve ergonomics in demanding work environments. This study investigates thermal variations and perceived exertion during scaffold assembly and disassembly in the construction sector, with and without a passive upper-limb exoskeleton. Eight healthy male participants were divided into group A with an exoskeleton and group B without. They were subjected to two 30-minute sessions, with a 10-minute rest interval. Some selected surface muscle temperature was assessed before and after each session using an infrared thermal camera, heart rate was monitored, while internal temperature and environmental parameters were continuously monitored. At the end of the experimental protocol, some psychometric exertion scales were submitted for thermal analysis. Preliminary results suggested thermal differences that may be attributed to altered muscle activation patterns when wearing the exoskeleton. Differences in perceived comfort and workload were also reported by the participants. These results lend credence to the idea that passive exoskeletons may affect physiological reactions and enhance task performance in repetitive and overhead construction tasks. This study advances our knowledge of how infrared thermography can be used as a non-invasive method to assess wearable assistive technology's performance in actual work environments.