New Specification for Exoskeleton Minimum Performance Criteria of Upper Body and Back Support Systems
1. Scope
This standard or set of standards will define three key components towards the development of specifications for upper body and back support exoskeletons: (1) minimum criteria (e.g., ergonomics, safety, performance, compatibility, maintenance), (2) testing specifications (e.g., metrics, evaluation methods, human subjects, mechanical/simulation), and (3) performance thresholds (e.g., at least X% reduction in Y, equivalent performance with and without exo, must have Z features). These components will be researched and explored in a corresponding F48.03 task group to determine the relevant parameters towards the development of minimum performance criteria for exoskeletons both broadly (e.g., based on type of system and/or tasks, such as load handling, overhead work, and tool manipulation) and narrowly (e.g., based on application domain, such as medical, military, occupational, etc.). The intent is to enable producers of exoskeletons to be able to cite having met one or more of the minimum performance criteria standards and for consumers to have confidence when selecting exoskeletons for procurement or deployment as having met these standards.
ASTM F48 standards assist industry in developing and evaluating their exoskeleton systems (i.e., standard test methods, practices, and guides). There remains a gap in defining a set of criteria with minimum performance thresholds (i.e., standard specifications and classifications). We envision this as three types of products: (1) establishing a set of minimum performance criteria, (2) developing testing specifications to evaluate for that criteria, and (3) determining minimum performance thresholds to be achieved.
