Industrial Exoskeletons: Are We Ready for Prime Time Yet?

摘要

What is an exoskeleton? Exoskeletons are external devices that are worn for an intended purpose such asrnrehabilitation or replacement for lost physical functions like walking. Others have considered these systemsrnfrom what earlier might have been a more science fiction perspective – such as increased mechanicalrnleveraging, strength, and speed – though such applications are starting to become science fact. Examples ofrnsuch emerging applications have, until now, been directed toward military applications, such as developingrnthe “super soldier” concept. Exoskeleton technologies are also being increasingly applied in medicalrnscenarios. However, industrial applications are still in their infancy despite a dramatic increase inrncommercial products being released to the market. With this infancy, designers of systems have focused onrnsystem function; but, what about user population safety, fit accommodation, and regulatory concerns? Howrnshould designers design for human user concerns while targeting system function? What considerationsrnshould customers and stakeholders contemplate before buying that next commercial off-the-shelf system?rnUltimately, how do we use ergonomic approaches to better design, assess, and use exoskeletons to benefitrnlabor-intensive occupational tasks, or most effectively adopt exoskeletons to enhance work that involvesrnphysical fatigue and risk of musculoskeletal injury? The session will start with initial lectures andrnintroductions from the panel, followed by an encouraged panel discussion with the audience led by thernmoderators.