Standard Test Method for Exoskeleton Use: Inclined Planes

Importancia y uso:

5.1 Inclined planes can vary greatly in, for example: slope, length, width, surface coatings and coverings, and handrails, and for a variety of industries. Fig. 1 shows images of example inclined planes. Example applications versus inclined planes are shown in Table 1.

(e) Metal roof; (f) aircraft baggage handling conveyer; and (g) sloped natural terrain.

(A) Herbert, Gareth, “Rise and Decline: How Steep Can a Conveyor Go?”, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rise-decline-how-steep-can-conveyor-go-gareth-herbert/, published October 3, 2018, accessed November 29, 2022.

5.2 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. Inclined planes are used in many tasks performed and may include, for example, upper, lower, or full body movement, or combinations thereof, in order to complete the task. The task may require people to traverse various ground surfaces while wearing an exoskeleton. For example, an exoskeleton may be used to help roofing construction workers to perform roof installation or maintenance tasks while on a slope. In manufacturing, warehousing, aircraft baggage handling, and other occupations, and other similar environments, workers in exoskeletons may ascend/descend inclined planes with and without carrying loads, indoors or outdoors, as part of their daily activities. The testing results of exoskeletons shall describe, in a statistically significant way (see guidance in Appendix X1), how reliably the exoskeleton is able to support tasks within the specified types of environments, confinements, and terrains, and thus provide sufficiently high levels of confidence to determine the applicability of the exoskeleton. Examples, definitions, and justifications need to be presented so that a standards user understands the applicability and limits of this procedure. An example is as follows:

5.2.1 A test requestor instructs that a lower-body exoskeleton is to be worn by five able-bodied users who are to complete 29 full tests to ascend and descend the standard inclined plane apparatus at their own pace where environmental variables are similar for all users. Upon testing, each user performed all 29 full tests whichproduces 90 % probability of success threshold and 95 % associated confidence with zero failures for all five users (from Table X1.1).

5.3 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 to exoskeleton purchasers and users.

5.4 The testing results of the candidate exoskeleton(s) shall describe, in a statistically significant way, how reliably the exoskeleton user is able to negotiate inclined planes. The test apparatus described in Section 6 is intended to be a single, standardized inclined plane where repeatable results between exoskeletons, users, and organizations are comparable. 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. For guidance on exoskeleton training, see Practice F3444/F3444M.

5.5 Although the test method was developed for the sectors listed in 5.2, it may be applicable to other operational domains.

Subcomité:

F48.03

Volúmen:

15.13

Palabras clave:

exoskeleton; exosuit; inclined plane; industrial/occupational; medical; military; movement; recreational; response;