Ford using avatar to improve ergonomics

The virtual worker - called Santos - was originally created for the US Department of Defence at the University of Iowa as part of the Virtual Soldier Research (VSR) program to help reduce physical strain on soldiers.

Santos resides in a virtual environment with a set of variables that the user can manipulate to effect changes in the way he interacts with the environment.

His move from the virtual battlefield to the virtual assembly line is the latest step in Ford’s efforts to improve ergonomics at its manufacturing plants.

’Creating the safest and most ergonomic way to build a vehicle is a trial-and-error process - in recent years technology has allowed this process to happen in the virtual world,’ said Allison Stephens, ergonomics technical specialist with Vehicle Operations Manufacturing Engineering.

’Santos can perform a task and tell us whether over months and years it will cause strain on the body when performing actions on a job, and we can make adjustments (to the process) until we find the optimal way to get the job done,’ she added..