Development of exoskeletons and motion measurement to reduce olive harvesting labor

This paper focuses on the evaluation of passive exoskeletons designed to reduce farmers’ fatigue during harvest. A preliminary infield test identifies typical harvesting, and then these motions are reproduced and analyzed under controlled conditions in the laboratory. Here, we present some biomechanical results obtained with and without two exoskeleton prototypes. The high repeatability of the recorded motions proves the consistency of the experimental procedures. Data analysis supports an objective evaluation of the exoskeleton prototypes and aids design optimization. This study has demonstrated the effectiveness of the designed exoskeletons in reducing workload in olive harvesting.