Standard Test Method for Exoskeleton Use: Crawling

Importancia y uso:

5.1 Exoskeletons are being used in the industrial/occupational, military, response, medical, and recreational sectors to enhance safety and effectiveness of the user to perform tasks. Crawling is a component of many tasks that someone would do while using an exoskeleton whether to assist the person crawling or to support the task in which the worker also needs to crawl, or both. For example, an exoskeleton may be used to help workers perform mold or asbestos abatement during reconstruction, handle airport baggage, or install ducting in a crawl space. Exoskeletons may instead, for example, be worn by soldiers required to crawl, although the exoskeleton is not intended to improve crawling. Fig. 3 shows examples of spaces and activities where exoskeleton users may crawl. As crawling may be required in these and other similar spaces and tasks, testing results of exoskeletons shall describe, in a statistically significant way, how reliably the exoskeleton is able to support tasks within the specified types of environments, confinements, terrains, and activities, and thus provide sufficiently high levels of confidence to determine the applicability of the exoskeleton to a given task.

(c) Military, (d) crawl spaces, and (e) pipes.

5.2 This test method addresses exoskeleton safety and performance requirements expressed by manufacturing, emergency responders, military, or other organizations requesting this test. The safety and performance data captured within this test method are indicative of the test exoskeleton’s and the exoskeleton user’s capabilities. Having available direct information from tested exoskeleton(s) with associated performance data to guide procurement and deployment decisions is essential for exoskeleton purchasers and users.

5.3 The standard test setup and apparatus (see Section 6) is specified to be easily fabricated to facilitate self-evaluation and replication of crawling tests by exoskeleton designers, developers, manufacturers, and users. The standard test setup and apparatus can also be used to support training and establish proficiency of exoskeleton users, as well as provide manufacturers with information about the usefulness of their exoskeleton(s) for tasks.

5.4 Although the test method was developed for the sectors listed in 5.1, it may be applicable to other operational domains.

Subcomité:

F48.03

Volúmen:

15.13

Palabras clave:

crawl; exoskeleton; exosuit; industrial/occupational; medical; military; recreational; response;