Ergonomics and Human-Machine Systems

  Group photo of the Ergonomics and Human-Machine Systems Department Copyright: © Kurt Beyer  

In the Department of Ergonomics and Human-Machine Systems, scientists from different disciplines conduct research on a number of integrated work science topics. Aside from (business) engineering and computer science our interdisciplinary team includes, among others, psychology, sociology, and sports sciences. The different scientific perspectives allow for an integrated evaluation and optimization of complex and dynamic socio-technical systems in particular, where the focus is on people and the existing interactions with technical actors and systems.

The main research foci within the department are product and production specific ergonomics as well as human-robot collaboration. In the context-specific teams, the socio-technical systems to be studied are analyzed and target group-differentiated design solutions and prototypes, e.g. for the human-machine interfaces, are developed and empirically evaluated. For workplace and product design, psychophysical measurement methods are used for ergonomic analysis and evaluation. In addition to the objectively measurable aspects of usability, the subjective user experience is also taken into account in order to improve and further develop the products in a participatory manner. In this way, workplaces, processes and work equipment are created that are suitable for the application and optimized for the workload. All of the work innovations achieved here have in common that they are based on the approach of integrated research. This approach places people at the center and calls for a holistic research perspective that does not see human-technology interaction solely as a technical problem, but rather as a way of meeting social challenges from different perspectives.

In such difficult situations as the coronavirus pandemic, the department is also involved in researching and improving occupational safety and health in the field of digitally supported (tele)cooperation or platform-based work, among others.

 

Staffmember

Portrait of Dr. Alexander Mertens©IAW
apl. Professor
Dr.-Ing. Dr. rer. medic. Dipl.-Inform. Alexander Mertens
Head of Ergonomics and Human-Machine Systems Department		Phone: +49 241 80 99494
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Oliver Brunner©IAW
Oliver Brunner M. Sc.
Deputy Head of Ergonomics and Human-Machine Systems Department		Phone: +49 241 80 99471
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Laura Johnen©IAW
Laura Johnen M. Sc.
Deputy Head of Ergonomics and Human-Machine Systems Department		Phone: +49 241 80 99470
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Dr. Christopher Brandl©IAW
Dr.-Ing. Christopher Brandl
Chief Engineer		Phone: +49 241 80 99474
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
 
Portrait of Olga Apdarmani©RWTH Aachen University
Olga Apdarmani B. Sc.Phone: +49 241 80 99483
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Matthias Arend
Matthias Georg Arend M. Sc.Phone: +49 241 80 99467
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Ralph Baier©RWTH Aachen University
Ralph Baier M. Sc.Phone: +49 241 80 99491
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Jan Barrera Agudelo©RWTH Aachen University
Jan Barrera Agudelo B. Sc.Phone: +49 241 80 99475
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of David Dohlen©IAW
David DohlenPhone: +49 241 80 99466
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Moritz Gebert©IAW
Moritz Gebert M. Sc.Phone: +49 241 80 99493
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Leonie Hellwig©RWTH Aachen University
Leonie HellwigPhone: +49 241 80 99469
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Spandana Matapathi©RWTH Aachen University
Spandana Matapathi M. Eng.Phone: +49 241 80 99498
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Srikanth Nouduri©IAW
Srikanth Nouduri M. Sc.Phone: +49 241 80 99486
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Sebastian Pütz©IAW
Sebastian Pütz M. Sc.Phone: +49 241 80 99499
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Vera Rick©IAW
Vera Barbara Rick M. A.Phone: +49 241 80 99434
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Katharina Schäfer©RWTH Aachen University
Katharina Schäfer M. A.Phone: +49 241 80 99488
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Philip Schäfer©RWTH Aachen University
Philip Schäfer M. Sc.Phone: +49 241 80 99461
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Nikolas Schierhorst©RWTH Aachen University
Nikolas Schierhorst M. Sc.Phone: +49 241 80 99413
Fax: +49 241 80 92131
Portrait of Apostolos Vrontos©IAW
Apostolos Vrontos M. Sc.Phone: +49 241 80 99481
Fax: +49 241 80 92131