HFE TAG 71 Meeting
 

Human Factors Modeling and Simulation Workshop

For the third year, the Human Modeling and Simulation SubTAG is organizing an engaging computational modeling hands on workshop. This year will focus on the use of a very powerful open source bio mechanical (and related) modeling tool, OPENSIM, initially developed and currently based at Stanford University with funding from NIH and now maintained by its user community.

As in the past, this HFE TAG workshop is being designed with Program Managers in mind to give them a greater understanding of how these tools can support various HF aspects of their programs. No advanced computer of human anatomy/physiology knowledge or skill is required.

This year's workshop is being provided by our own OpenSim user, Dr. John Ramsay, Research Biomechanics Engineer US Army Natick Soldier Systems Center.

Participants will be provided with instruction to download OpenSim which is approved for use on the DREN for the workshop and a take home tool.

OBJECTIVES:

  1. Expose HF Program Managers to a low cost modeling tool for use in design and testing human physical engagement or interaction with systems.
  2. Help demystify computational modeling of humans as components in integrated human-machine-environment systems R&D for non computational HF professionals.
  3. Demonstrate the utility and power of the OpenSim human modeling tool for analysis of human ergonomic effects related to human machine systems integration, through facilitated hands on use of the the OpenSim tools. OpenSim being one of several such tools.
  4. Help participants understand the growing user sourced open software benefits and limitations as cost saving resources for in house and contracted R&D.

CONTENT:

  • Pre session DREN APPROVED software loading to participants' personal computers for use in the hands on sessions and for take-away.
  • Didactic orientation to open source computational tools for HF and related work.
  • Didactic instruction with examples specific to the OpenSim tools and community of users.
  • Facilitated small group hands on use of OpenSim to actually study or solve selected use cases.
  • Group sharing of solutions and discovery made during the hands on exercises.
  • Concluding discussion of the growing open source community resource movement and its fit (advantages and disadvantages) in government HF R&D contracting.