Loading...
Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) on ASTM standards and related intellectual property is prohibited. Violations will result in suspension of access.
By David Walsh
Aug 29, 2025
There are a few topics that will always capture the imagination of science fiction fans and the wider world of pop culture in general. Space travel is one. Think 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, and many others. Time travel is another. Think Back to the Future and H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine for just two examples. It is also fair to add the topic of exoskeletons to the list of technologies that get the hearts of geeks and techies pounding. Think of the iconic image of the Alien franchise’s heroine Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) defiantly facing down a deadly xenomorph in a massive yellow exoskeleton. (Fans of the movie will remember her equally iconic quote in this scene, though it is distinctly NSFW.)
For many, however, the disappointing aspect of these thrilling examples of speculative science fiction comes from asking the central question: When will we see these things in our daily lives? When might the average person rocket off into space, go back in time, or yes, strap on an exoskeleton and experience the enhanced abilities we’ve read about and seen depicted on the big screen? The committee on exoskeletons and exosuits (F48) is at the vanguard of developing the standards that will someday make exo technology an ubiquitous part of daily life, and a newly proposed test method for exoskeleton use by firefighters promises to be a big step forward in that direction.
Benjamin Beiter, mechanical engineer with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and F48 member, says exoskeletons are already seeing a great deal of use in the workplace. “The day when everyone is wearing an exoskeleton for physical enhancement in their daily lives may be many years off,” he says. “But the day when specialized exoskeletons are made for a variety of jobs and types of physical activity is not far off. Large exoskeletons with many degrees of freedom that can augment a human’s strength might get the most attention, but the use of simple, everyday, assistive objects such as back, knee, or ankle braces show the potential benefit of wearable devices that can assist, augment, or support specific aspects of human motion.”
FOR YOU: The Future of Exoskeleton Standards
It’s the specialized functions Beiter mentions that form the focus of the test method for exoskeleton use: public safety or response: tool handling for breaching (WK93944), a standard currently being developed by the subcommittee on task performance and environmental considerations subcommittee (F48.03). The idea of firefighters using exoskeletons to enhance strength, improve endurance, and increase safety is a natural fit for exo technology.
“This standard is a first step toward the integration of exoskeletons into the turnout gear that firefighters use on a daily basis,” says Beiter. “It is one test method describing how to evaluate exoskeleton performance on a task related to first response-type actions. The standard provides an apparatus and testing procedure to evaluate how much an exoskeleton may assist a user in manipulating the environment with a heavy tool [such as a Halligan Bar].”
Aaron Prather, director of ASTM’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems Program, part of the ASTM Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence, agrees. “What makes this standard important is that it doesn’t just test the strength of the exoskeleton, it evaluates whether the device supports natural movement, allows for safe and efficient task completion, and avoids introducing new mobility or ergonomic issues. By creating a consistent way to measure performance in realistic conditions, this standard helps both manufacturers refine their designs and fire departments make informed purchasing decisions.”
Exoskeltons are a natural fit for the dangerous work of fighting fires.
The work item itself has a distinction that may make it unique in ASTM’s long history, namely, that it emerged from a student competition: The 2024 ASTM International Exo Games, held in West Conshohocken, PA, in August of 2024. The games are comprised of a series of exo-related tasks for teams to complete with their own exo designs, and the firefighter-themed task led to the creation of first the test method, and then the work item that will eventually become a standard.
“After working with firefighter subject matter experts, the general test method was created and specified, and then the proposed apparatus was created and used as a competition task for the Exo Games,” says Beiter. “The experience in implementing the test method for the competition aided in the further refinement of it and production of the standard document. This is just one example of how a student competition can be used for the validation and development of high-quality standards.”
According to Prather, the next step was to form a task group (TG) within F48, and that work is currently ongoing. The goals of the TG take into consideration much of what Beiter and Prather discussed earlier: the practical, specific, everyday functions that will be needed in the complex and dangerous field of firefighting. “The task group’s primary goal is to develop a practical, repeatable test method that reflects the real demands firefighters face, specifically tool manipulation during overhaul tasks. They’re focused on ensuring the test captures both the potential benefits and any limitations of using exoskeletons in these high-stress environments.”
As the work item makes its way through the consensus process, it will undoubtedly evolve. As Beiter says, “Committee review and consensus approval provides all stakeholders present – manufacturers, academics, regulators, and end users – with the opportunity to review and make comments on the draft standard that will be taken seriously by the authors. In this way, ASTM can create high-quality standards that we are confident will be applicable to all exoskeleton and use case stakeholders.”
READ MORE: Standards to Protect Those Who Protect Us
Prather elaborates, noting the ultimate, big-picture goal for all standards in the robotics and exo communities. “F48’s work, including this item, is all about ensuring that exoskeletons are safe, effective, and ready for real-world use, not just in labs or demos. We’re not just building standards for today’s technology. We’re laying the groundwork for how wearable robotics will be trusted and adopted across critical industries in the years to come.”
To get involved in this and other standards work, or for more information on the committee on exoskeletons and exosuits, contact committee manager Nora Nimmerichter at nnimmerichter@astm.org. ●
David Walsh is editor in chief of Standardization News.
September / October 2025
