Frida Graf

In the world of ergonomics, small changes can have significant impact. Changing the shape of a tool’s handle or tweaking its location in relation to the center of gravity can have transformative effects on safety and productivity for manufacturing workers. 

Frida Graf, Senior Ergonomics Specialist at Atlas Copco Group, spends her days making this happen. And she finds seeing the results in action especially rewarding.

Yes, small changes in ergonomics can make a world of difference for human operators – but also for robots. Frida is a specialist in "human-centric" design. But she explains that whether we are designing tools to be wielded by human hands or robotic arms, some priorities remain the same.

“Throughout the years we’ve done huge amounts of research and built a lot of knowledge about vibration and other loads, which are harmful for human operators, but it’s also damaging to sensors and technical equipment,” Frida says.

“The work we’re doing today and indeed have been doing for many years will unquestionably have a positive impact on automation.” 

In Frida’s mind, robots are still best utilized for less complex, highly repetitive or harmful tasks, while intricate processes are better suited to humans, as people have an exceptional ability to adapt to any situation that arises.

“Manufacturing will become increasingly diverse, ranging from feeding material to a fully automated process that will create the end product, right up to human operators doing all or most of the work,” she concludes.

Frida is now leading a research project at the University of Windsor in Canada. It will study cognitive ergonomics with a focus on the cognitive load placed on operators while performing manufacturing work tasks.

To clarify, cognitive load relates to the amount of information a person can handle at any time while using their working memory. It affects perceptions among operators of how complicated it is to use certain tools, or to perform certain tasks.

Frida’s research project will move through several phases, the first of which entails forming a process to measure cognitive loads on operators by tracking blink rates and pupil dilation. Frida explains that by agreeing on how to measure cognitive load, tool concepts can be compared with greater accuracy.

“If someone needs to remember several work steps and is overloaded with sensory inputs or information, they might miss or forget something really important," Frida says.

"It’s about keeping the cognitive load at an optimal level by presenting the right information at the right time."