Awareness and Empathy in Self-Body Control for Manufacturing Skill Education

Abstract: In this presentation, we will discuss the value of skills in the field of manufacturing and introduce a novel approach to effectively acquire skills by focusing on bodily movements. In recent years, the field of manufacturing has rapidly embraced digital transformation (DX). In particular, sensor and computer technologies have significantly advanced over the past decade. This has enabled the real-time acquisition of various physical information related to manufacturing, leading to a substantial increase in the parameters of models. Consequently, the precision of automatic control and robotic technology has greatly improved, facilitating the automation of complex manufacturing processes.However, the importance of human skills has become more pronounced amidst this digital revolution. Although DX ensures certain levels of precision and quality in production, digital information heavily relies on resolution and sampling frequency. Moreover, the number of parameters is finite. Many manufacturing processes involve environments that are not as stable as factory settings. In the pursuit of differentiation through high-precision, high-quality products, human skills are indispensable.Despite ongoing research on human skills in the context of DX, most prior studies have focused on skill evaluation, often framed as the "Expert-Novice Problem.” Evaluation methods assess the quality of end products and use motion capture or image analysis techniques to detect differences in skill movements across various stages. Subsequently, learners are expected to imitate the skill movements of experts, with post-evaluation feedback highlighting product defects and low-skill-level movements.Although imitation learning is effective to a certain extent, it presents limitations in achieving a mastery level of proficiency. To precisely control tools for manufacturing objects, learners must understand how to control their own bodies. Bodily control involves perceiving sensory information related to muscle activity timing, with the balance between body parts and tools collectively referred to as somatosensory information. Learning how to consciously utilize this somatosensory information while processing states during movements is crucial for skill improvement.Because somatosensory information is difficult to verbalize and exhibits an unclear relationship with skills, it has often been regarded as tacit knowledge. We therefore propose a skill information structuring method to clarify somatosensory information, presenting a support approach that encourages learners to be conscious of somatosensory information. This method facilitates mutual understanding between instructors and learners by sharing their respective mental images, enabling empathetic training. Our learning approach is expected to be effective not only for manufacturing, but other skills that involve bodily movements.

Keywords: Skill Education, Awareness, Empathy, Somatosensory information, Skill information structuring method

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1004695

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