Upper Body Postural Analysis in Sitting Workplace Environment Using Microsoft Kinect V2 Sensor

Abstract

Human postural analysis is paramount to ergonomic assessment of human-workplace systems. Traditionally, motion tracking systems are being used to assess human joint kinematics in laboratory environment. Motion tracking systems with marker technology make the measurements cumbersome and limit the area of scope to constrained environments. In the present work, cheap, marker less, calibration-free, portable system using Microsoft Kinect sensor was scrutinized for its viability on human body kinematic analysis. Kinect V2 (more accurate and technologically better than Kinect V1) sensor was used to examine the body postural data of 15 participants doing a sitting job. Most of the studies are being done by placing Kinect sensor in front of the body due to occlusions. Efforts were made to assess the human body posture using side view data by placing the Kinect sensor parallel to sagittal plane of human body. Parameters like joint angles were recorded and were analyzed ergonomically for all the participants. The result of the study suggests the possible use of infrared cameras like Kinect to have some insight on human upper body ergonomic assessment in workplace environment. Relevance to Industry: The results obtained from the study can help the ergonomists and concerned technicians to set up better ergonomic assessment tools for workplace. The possible stakeholders of the current study are people working in offices, IT companies, call centres, accounting and analytical tasks, clerical works and all kind of sitting jobs.