One of the barriers to more widespread development and adoption of exoskeletons for industrial, medical, and military use has been a lack of standards. ASTM International this month proposed a guide to provide standardized tools to assess and improve the usability and usefulness of exoskeletons and exosuits.
“Exoskeletons and exosuits can open up a world of possibilities, from helping workers perform industrial tasks while not getting overstressed, to helping stroke victims learning to walk again, to helping soldiers carry heavier rucksacks longer distances,” said Kevin Purcell, an ergonomist at the U.S. Army Public Health Center’s Aberdeen Proving Ground. “But if it doesn’t help you perform your task and/or it’s hard to use, it won’t get used.”
他补充说，该指南将结合理解属性的方法外骨骼，以及观察方法和问卷，以帮助评估exoskeleton’s performance and safety.
珀塞尔说：“创建此标准的最大挑战是外骨骼的变化很大，具体取决于外骨骼旨在提供帮助的任务。”“例如，工业外骨骼与用于医疗康复的设计完全不同。拟议的标准将需要涵盖所有类型和行业。”
根据Purcell的说法，工业，医疗康复和国防使用者将从拟议的标准中受益最大，外骨骼制造商和监管机构也将受益。
TheF48 committeeASTM International（以前称为美国测试和材料学会）成立于2017年。它目前正在研究拟议的外骨骼和外鞋标准，WK68719. Six subcommittees include about 150 members, including startups, government agencies, and enterprises such as Boeing and BMW.
ASTM发布第一标准
In May, ASTM International published its first two standards documents, which are intended to provide consensus terminology (F3323) and set forth basic labeling and other informational requirements (F3358). The standards are available for purchase.
美国国家标准技术研究所（NIST）的物理科学家威廉·比洛特（William Billotte）说：“外骨骼体现了赋予人类权力的技术承诺。”“我们要确保标签和产品信息清晰，使外骨骼适合人们，以便安全有效地运作，以便人们从这些创新产品中获得最大的收益。”
该委员会正在制定一些拟议的标准，并欢迎外骨骼社区成员更多地参与。例如，Billotte指出，委员会因在许多外骨骼中确保数据，控制措施和生物识别技术的需求越来越多，因此寻求网络安全专家。
南卡罗来纳州斯巴达堡的宝马工厂的外骨骼背心。资料来源：宝马
呼吁外骨骼卓越中心
上个月，ASTM International呼吁提出“ Exo Technologies Excellence中心”的建议。获胜者每年最多可获得25万美元的收入，最多五年。ASTM说，今天将提出完整的建议，获奖者将于9月宣布。
ASTM国际总裁凯瑟琳·摩根（Katharine Morgan）表示：“现在是在初创企业，公司和其他正在探索外骨骼如何支持工厂工人，患者，军队和许多其他人之间建立合作枢纽的合适时机。”“我们期待这个新的中心，可作为改变游戏规则的研发，标准化，相关培训，合作伙伴关系以及其他帮助世界受益于这项激动人心的新技术的催化剂。”
The center of excellence is intended to fill knowledge gaps, provide a global hub for education and a neutral forum to discuss common challenges, and provide a library of community resources. It should also coordinate global links among stakeholders, said ASTM.
West Conshohocken, Pa.-based ASTM International said it meets World Trade Organization (WTO) principles for developing international standards. The organization’s standards are used globally in research and development, product testing, quality systems, commercial transactions, and more.
Filed Under:航空航天 +防御,The Robot Report,网络安全
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