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Occupational exoskeletons as symbionts: defining operator-exoskeleton interactions

Publication

The fourth industrial revolution heralds the emergence of the Operator 4.0, characterized by the augmentation of physical, sensory or cognitive capabilities of workers. This transformation involves a shift from artificial and human agents working together toward a radical coupling of those two entities. The concept of symbiosis has been introduced to characterize these new human cyber-physical systems. Occupational exoskeletons contribute to the development of the "super strength-operator" aspect of Operator 4.0. Currently, attempts to implement exoskeletons in the workplace are accelerating, raising questions about their acceptance by operators. However, to comprehensively grasp the challenges associated with the use of exoskeletons, it is essential to broaden the comprehension of operator-exoskeleton interactions beyond acceptance. An initial step towards achieving this understanding involves clarifying the terminology used to describe interactions between humans and exoskeletons. By positioning exoskeletons as potential symbionts and drawing insights from the ergonomics literature on symbiosis, this article aims to define the human-exoskeleton symbiosis.