Assessing operators’ workload in collaborative logistics 5.0: a case application with AMR

In recent decades, technologies such as Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR) have emerged as promising solutions to assist or replace humans in physically demanding and risky tasks in logistics, improving worker safety and wellbeing. However, the integration of these advanced technologies with human activities poses challenges related to system design and task management, particularly in the context of Industry 5.0, which promotes human-centricity, advocating for sustainable systems that consider human needs and characteristics in smart manufacturing and logistics environments. This paper contributes to the Logistics 5.0 research stream by presenting an experimental study on the use of AMRs to assist operators in material handling tasks. The study, conducted in the SLIM laboratory at the University of Bergamo, evaluates operators' workloads during material handling activities with and without AMR assistance. The NASA-TLX questionnaire is employed to measure the perceived workload in the collaborative tasks. The results offer valuable insights into designing effective, human-centred logistics systems, enhancing operator efficiency and wellbeing.