Editing Simulation (section)

===Ergonomics===
'''Ergonomic simulation'''<!--boldface per [[WP:R#PLA]]--> involves the analysis of virtual products or manual tasks within a virtual environment. In the engineering process, the aim of ergonomics is to develop and to improve the design of products and work environments.<ref name="Reed, M. P. 2006">Reed, M. P., Faraway, J., Chaffin, D. B., & Martin, B. J. (2006). The HUMOSIM Ergonomics Framework: A new approach to digital human simulation for ergonomic analysis. SAE Technical Paper, 01-2365</ref> Ergonomic simulation utilizes an anthropometric virtual representation of the human, commonly referenced as a mannequin or Digital Human Models (DHMs), to mimic the postures, mechanical loads, and performance of a human operator in a simulated environment such as an airplane, automobile, or manufacturing facility. DHMs are recognized as evolving and valuable tool for performing proactive ergonomics analysis and design.<ref>Chaffin, D. B. (2007). Human motion simulation for vehicle and workplace design. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries,17(5), 475–484</ref> The simulations employ 3D-graphics and physics-based models to animate the virtual humans. Ergonomics software uses inverse kinematics (IK) capability for posing the DHMs.<ref name="Reed, M. P. 2006"/>

Software tools typically calculate biomechanical properties including individual muscle forces, joint forces and moments. Most of these tools employ standard ergonomic evaluation methods such as the NIOSH lifting equation and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). Some simulations also analyze physiological measures including metabolism, energy expenditure, and fatigue limits Cycle time studies, design and process validation, user comfort, reachability, and line of sight are other human-factors that may be examined in ergonomic simulation packages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/tecnomatix/assembly_planning/jack/index.shtml|title=Jack and Process Simulate Human|work=Siemens PLM Software|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508230912/http://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/products/tecnomatix/assembly_planning/jack/index.shtml|archive-date=8 May 2013}}</ref>

Modeling and simulation of a task can be performed by manually manipulating the virtual human in the simulated environment. Some ergonomics [[simulation software]] permits interactive, [[real-time simulation]] and evaluation through actual human input via motion capture technologies. However, motion capture for ergonomics requires expensive equipment and the creation of props to represent the environment or product.

Some applications of ergonomic simulation in include analysis of solid waste collection, disaster management tasks, interactive gaming,<ref>Bush, P. M., Gaines, S., Gammoh, F., & Wooden, S. A Comparison of Software Tools for Occupational Biomechanics and Ergonomic Research.</ref> automotive assembly line,<ref>Niu, J. W., Zhang, X. W., Zhang, X., & Ran, L. H. (December 2010). Investigation of ergonomics in automotive assembly line using Jack. industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM), 2010 IEEE International Conference on (pp. 1381–1385). IEEE.</ref> virtual prototyping of rehabilitation aids,<ref>Beitler, Matthew T., Harwin, William S., & Mahoney, Richard M. (1996) In Proceedings of the virtual prototyping of rehabilitation aids, RESNA 96, pp. 360–363.</ref> and aerospace product design.<ref>G.R. Bennett. The application of virtual prototyping in the development of complex aerospace products. Virtual Prototyping Journal, 1 (1) (1996), pp. 13–20</ref> Ford engineers use ergonomics simulation software to perform virtual product design reviews. Using engineering data, the simulations assist evaluation of assembly ergonomics. The company uses Siemen's Jack and Jill ergonomics simulation software in improving worker safety and efficiency, without the need to build expensive prototypes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.industrysoftware.automation.siemens.com/blog/2012/03/21/floor-2012-chicago-auto-show-automation-world-shows-ford-power-simulation/ |title=From the floor of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show: Automation World shows how Ford uses the power of simulation « Siemens PLM Software Blog<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=6 December 2012 |archive-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424104132/http://blog.industrysoftware.automation.siemens.com/blog/2012/03/21/floor-2012-chicago-auto-show-automation-world-shows-ford-power-simulation/ |url-status=live }}</ref>