Meet the Groups Advancing Exoskeleton Awareness

Exoskeleton producers don’t exist in a vacuum – they are part of a broader ecosystem of advocates working to advance this transformative technology. In Episode 8 of the Exoskeletons and Wearable Robotics Podcast, we explore the key organizations, associations, and societies working on advancing exoskeleton technology. We excluded distributors or tasks to wearable matching services from this episode, as they deserve a separate segment. This is not just about a technology that has the potential to improve human life; it’s about building a community!

00:00 Introduction 03:24 Automotive Exoskeleton Group (AExG) 05:37 ASTM International Exo Technology Center of Excellence (ET CoE) 08:16 Exoskeleton Report 09:09 Fraunhofer IPA 11:24 American Bionics Project 12:18 International Industry Society in Advanced Rehabilitation Technology (IISART) 13:39 Association of the Exoskeleton Industry e.V. (VDEI) 14:57 I Got Legs 16:14 Assist Suit Association 18:36 Motus Academy 20:42 International Consortium For Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR) 21:57 Europe’s Exoskeleton Experts (3E) 22:56 Get2Excel 25:04 Conferences related to exo tech 30:32 National Safety Council (NSC) & Outro

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Short summary of Episode 8:

This episode covers key organizations and initiatives propelling the field of exoskeletons and wearable robotics forward. The episode highlights significant groups, such as the Automotive Exoskeleton Group, which promotes cross-industry collaboration to enhance worker safety and productivity. The ASTM International EXO Technology Center of Excellence (ET CoE) is discussed for its work in advancing standards and education, including its influential Excellent Exo Chat podcast and the Exo Games. The Fraunhofer IPA’s dedication to biomechatronic research and collaborative studies using motion capture with Anybody Technology is also praised.

Other organizations mentioned include the American Bionics Project, promoting bionics and powered prosthetics; the International Industry Society for Advanced Rehabilitation Technology (IISART), focusing on medical exoskeletons; and VDEI, a European association for exoskeleton producers that recently published an EXO guide.

The episode delves into initiatives like I Got Legs, which aims to create competitive sports using walking-assist exoskeletons, and the Assist Suit Association of Japan, fostering hands-on public exposure to wearable robotics. The Motus Academy’s education and refurbishment efforts are spotlighted, along with upcoming conferences like the International Conference of Rehabilitation Robotics, emphasizing practical applications of robotic technologies.

Bobby and Tom conclude by emphasizing the need for better collaboration among organizations, acknowledging semi-dormant initiatives like Get2Excel, which aimed to unite global clusters but faced funding challenges. The episode encourages continued cooperation to push the industry forward collectively.

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