Occupational Exoskeletons: Overview of Mental Workload Effects and Assessment Methodologies

Abstract

This article builds on findings obtained from a study focusing on the use of exoskeletons in real-world automotive manufacturing environments. The results of electromyographic measurements in this study demonstrated a 24.8% reduction in deltoid muscle workload. In contrast, subjective assessments of perceived discomfort measurement sessions showed an average increase of 68.7%. These findings indicate that although exoskeletons can provide substantial reductions in physical workload, their use may simultaneously be associated with an increase in other forms of load that are not captured solely by biomechanical indicators.Attempts to compare these results with existing literature revealed absence of a standardized methodology for assessing mental workload in the context of exoskeleton use. The objective of this article is therefore to present a systematic review of studies addressing mental workload in relation to exoskeleton use, published between 2000 and 2025. A systematic literature search in the Web of Science database identified a total of 40 studies, of which only 13 specifically focused on occupational exoskeletons.The analysis shows that the assessment of mental workload in these studies is inconsistent and methodologically heterogeneous. These methodological differences lead to contradictory conclusions across individual studies. The reliability of the available evidence is further limited by small and gender-imbalanced samples, with a predominance of male participants.The findings of this review highlight the need to develop comprehensive and standardized methodologies for mental workload assessment, enabling a balanced evaluation of both physical benefits and cognitive demands and supporting the safe, effective, and human-centered implementation of exoskeletons in occupational settings.

Keywords: Exoskeletons, Mental Workload, Discomfort

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007793