Toyota Develops Dummy Fingers to Enhance Worker Safety in Auto Factories

Toyota, renowned for its quality automobiles, is taking innovative steps to ensure the safety of its factory workers. The Japanese auto giant has introduced dummy fingers to evaluate and maximize the safety of its workers' hands, particularly in light of increased interaction between humans and robots on the factory floor.

Toyota Dummy Finger In Factory Machine

The initiative comes as part of Toyota's commitment to maintaining the safety of its workforce amid the growing integration of automation in car manufacturing. Despite the efficiency of the Toyota Production System, human workers remain essential for operating machinery, but they are also prone to accidents, especially when working alongside heavy automated equipment.

Crafted in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, at Toyota's headquarters in Toyota City, these dummy fingers are the brainchild of Takeo Mori, a manager in the Manufacturing Engineering Department. Collaborating with Panasonic, Toyota developed these innovative tools to address the rising risk of workplace accidents, particularly hand and finger injuries caused by pinch hazards common in manufacturing.

Toyota Dummy Finger

Mori explained that the dummy fingers were designed to assess the degree of finger entrapment in small surface areas, a crucial aspect given the hardness and sharpness of many automobile parts. Made of pig skin to mimic human skin's elasticity and feel, each dummy finger includes a stainless steel core to simulate a human bone.

Moreover, Toyota has created different types of dummy fingers to correspond with gender and age, ensuring a comprehensive approach to safety evaluation. These dummy fingers enable engineers to adjust machine forces during the production process, minimizing the risk of injuries for workers.

Toyota Dummy Finger Size

The development of these dummy fingers began in 2018, in collaboration with Panasonic and Nagoya University's medical school research department. While Panasonic was working on a sophisticated device for analyzing finger injuries, Toyota opted for a simpler, on-site analog system that could be easily implemented without relying on computer analysis.

Not only have these dummy fingers enhanced safety on the assembly line, but they have also influenced the design of new car models. Toyota used them to create safer tonneau covers, which often pose pinch points where the luggage compartment meets the passenger space. Additionally, they help in studying accidents that car owners may experience, such as getting a finger caught in a door jamb.

Source



from Indian Autos Blog https://ift.tt/vP1sSqc
via IFTTT

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Mahindra XUV700 MX 7-Seater – Price, Features Explained

Image
Mahindra & Mahindra has expanded its XUV700 SUV lineup with a new entry-level 7-seater variant, the MX, priced at Rs 15 lakh. It’s about Rs 40,000 more expensive than the 5-seater version and Rs 3 lakh cheaper than the AX3 7-seater variant. The new Mahindra XUV700 MX 7-seater is being offered with a 2.2L diesel engine that delivers a peak power of 156 bhp. It comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. The MX 5-seater variant is also available with a 2.0L turbo petrol engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. Similar to its 5-seater counterpart, the new Mahindra XUV700 MX 7-seater is available in five color options: Midnight Black, Napoli Black, Everest White, Red Rage, and Dazzling Red. In terms of features, this entry-level 7-seater variant offers all the amenities available in its 5-seater counterpart, including pop-out door handles, roof rails, a rear spoiler, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, four speakers, a 7-inch instrument cluster, USB-A and USB-C
Read more

Hyundai Ioniq 6 Electric Sedan Unveiled With Porsche Like Design

Image
GaadiWaadi - Hyundai Ioniq 6 is essentially a toned-down take on the Prophecy concept with unique styling elements; has a modern interior packed with new tech Following a set of teasers, Hyundai has unveiled the Ioniq 6 sedan for the global markets. The first sedan from the Ioniq electric vehicle range is also the first sedan to sit on the dedicated E-GMP electric skateboard architecture and it has several commonalities with the Prophecy concept showcased early last year. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is essentially a toned-down take on the Prophecy concept with a unique styling but retains most of the clever design ethos. The zero-emission sedan evokes a retro design language while blending with modern elements like the Parametric Pixel lights. A portion of the front as well as the rear whale tail spoiler reminds us of the vintage Porsches. The swooping low-tailed design gives us Porsche vibes again while the front and rear bumpers are rather busy. The Hyundai logo is grafted just below th
Read more

Yamaha Aerox S Priced at Rs 1.50 Lakh; Gets Smart Key

Image
Yamaha Motor India has introduced the new Aerox S variant with keyless ignition and a few more features. This new variant has been priced at Rs 1,50,000, thus making it Rs 3300 more expensive from the standard variant. It can be had in two colour schemes – Silver and Racing Blue. By simply pressing a button on the smart key, you can easily locate the scooter as it triggers flashing indicators and emits a distinctive sound. Instead of the conventional slot, the key knob conveniently adjusts to various positions, whether it’s powering on/off the scooter or opening the fuel cap. The new Yamaha Aerox S variant is equipped with an immobilizer feature, ensuring the vehicle automatically locks when the smart key is beyond its range. No other changes have been made to it. The scooter continues to come with the LED lighting, a charging socket, start-stop tech, Bluetooth connectivity and a digital instrument. It comes with the 14-inch front and rear wheels with a wide 140-section rear tyre. T
Read more