{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,12]],"date-time":"2026-09-12T16:21:15Z","timestamp":1789230075088,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":25,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,26]],"date-time":"2026-01-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1769385600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"School of Mechanical Engineering at Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Valpara\u00edso"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Biomimetics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) remain a global occupational health priority, with recognized limitations in current point-in-time assessment methodologies. This research extends prior computer vision ergonomic assessment approaches by implementing biological proprioceptive feedback principles into a continuous, real-time monitoring system. Unlike traditional periodic ergonomic evaluation methods such as \u201cRapid Upper Limb Assessment\u201d (RULA), our bio-inspired system translates natural proprioceptive mechanisms\u2014which enable continuous postural monitoring through spinal feedback loops operating at 50\u2013150 ms latencies\u2014into automated assessment technology. The system integrates (1) markerless 3D pose estimation via MediaPipe Holistic (33 anatomical landmarks at 30 FPS), (2) depth validation via Orbbec Femto Mega RGB-D camera (640 \u00d7 576 resolution, Time-of-Flight sensor), and (3) proprioceptive-inspired alert architecture. Experimental validation with 40 adult participants (age 18\u201325, n = 26 female, n = 14 male) performing standardized load-lifting tasks (6 kg) demonstrated that 62.5% exhibited critical postural risk (RULA \u2265 5) during dynamic movement versus 7.5% at static rest, with McNemar test p&lt;0.001 (Cohen\u2019s h=1.22, 95% CI: 0.91\u20130.97). The system achieved 95% Pearson correlation between risk elevation and alert activation, with response latency of 42.1\u00b18.3 ms. This work demonstrates technical feasibility for continuous occupational monitoring. However, long-term prospective studies are required to establish whether continuous real-time feedback reduces workplace injury incidence. The biomimetic design framework provides a systematic foundation for translating biological feedback principles into occupational health technology.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/biomimetics11020088","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,27]],"date-time":"2026-01-27T09:05:27Z","timestamp":1769504727000},"page":"88","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Real-Time Automated Ergonomic Monitoring: A Bio-Inspired System Using 3D Computer Vision"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Gabriel Andr\u00e9s","family":"Zamorano N\u00fa\u00f1ez","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela de Ingenier\u00eda Mec\u00e1nica, Facultad de Ingenier\u00eda, Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Valpara\u00edso, Avenida Brasil 2950, Valpara\u00edso 2340025, Chile"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-0767-258X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nicol\u00e1s","family":"Norambuena","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela de Ingenier\u00eda Mec\u00e1nica, Facultad de Ingenier\u00eda, Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Valpara\u00edso, Avenida Brasil 2950, Valpara\u00edso 2340025, Chile"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-8685-1998","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Isabel Cuevas","family":"Quezada","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela de Kinesiolog\u00eda, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Valpara\u00edso, Avenida Brasil 2950, Valpara\u00edso 2340025, Chile"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1584-6901","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 Luis","family":"Val\u00edn Rivera","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela de Ingenier\u00eda Mec\u00e1nica, Facultad de Ingenier\u00eda, Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Valpara\u00edso, Avenida Brasil 2950, Valpara\u00edso 2340025, Chile"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Javier Narea","family":"Olmos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela de Ingenier\u00eda El\u00e9ctrica, Facultad de Ingenier\u00eda, Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Valpara\u00edso, Avenida Brasil 2950, Valpara\u00edso 2340025, Chile"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-6987-8911","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Crist\u00f3bal Galleguillos","family":"Ketterer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela de Ingenier\u00eda Mec\u00e1nica, Facultad de Ingenier\u00eda, Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00f3lica de Valpara\u00edso, Avenida Brasil 2950, Valpara\u00edso 2340025, Chile"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"International Labour Organization (2017). 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