1. Scope

Keywords

Rationale

Exoskeletons need to function as intended, regardless of types of tasks and terrain complexities. Required movement capabilities may include, for example: walking, running, crawling, climbing, traversing gaps, hurdles, stairs, slopes, various terrains, confined spaces, overhead reaching, crouching, and tool manipulation. Standard test methods are required to evaluate whether or not exoskeletons meet these requirements. Exoskeletons have a high potential to benefit first responders in their line of duty. For firefighters exoskeletons can assist in carrying their equipment load as well as in performing needed heavy duty tasks. However it is imperative that those same devices do not have a detrimental effect on mobility. Standard test methods provide an application specific way to evaluate exoskeletons, measuring the benefit to performance the devices provide, and validating that they have no negative effect. The users of this standard will be exoskeleton manufacturers attempting to validate performance and safety of their created devices, as well as first responder customer attempting to evaluate exoskeletons for comparison to select the best device for them.