Model-driven evaluation of exoskeletons for efficient traction battery dismantling

The disassembly of traction batteries is primarily performed manually due to the difficulty of implementing automation solutions, mainly because of the large number of variants. As a result of the lack of automation, employees are frequently exposed to heavy loads and unergonomic postures, which can lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This paper utilizes a modeling approach with the software “emaWorkDesigner” to evaluate the ergonomics and feasibility of exoskeletons in facilitating and improving the manual disassembly of traction batteries. The Ergonomic Assessment Work Sheet EAWS is applied as ergonomic assessment method. EAWS section criteria are analyzed to investigate the potential use of exoskeletons to support the workers. The assessment is conducted based on the example of the first disassembly step, which is the removal of the tray cover. Finally, the study concludes with recommendations and areas of future research for the traction battery disassembly in industrial applications.