Exoskeleton Report

WearRAcon 2022
2022-04-25 - 2022-04-26 | DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Paradise Valley – Scottsdale, 5401 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85250, United States
Save the date for the Wearable Robotics Association (WearRA) Wearable Robotics Conference 2022 (WearRAcon 22)! The annual three-day event is scheduled to be held, in-person, on Mon & Tue, April 25-26. The event location will be the same as the last time WearRAcon was held in person: the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Paradise Valley – Scottsdale, Arizona.
WearRAcon 2022 will be the 7th annual wearable robotics and exoskeleton conference. This easily makes the WearRAcon series the longest-running dedicated to exoskeleton technology. As the agenda and more information become available it will be added here. For now, however, mark your calendar and review some of our previous WearRAcon coverage (more than 30 articles from 2015-2021). You can also periodically check on the WearRA website for updates: http://www.wearablerobotics.com/wearracon-22/
Registration: link

Location and hotel:
DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Paradise Valley
5401 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 8525
Articles:

WearRAcon 22 is On Track to be Held in Person on April 25-26

ASTM International April 2022 Committee Week
2022-04-27 09:00 - 2022-04-29 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Seattle, Seattle, WA, United States
ASTM International Committee F48 on Exoskeletons (and Exosuits) will hold its first meeting for 2022 during ASTM Committee Week 22 this April. Committee F48 will be joined by F45 on Robotics, Automation, and Autonomous Systems and another 20 standards committees under one roof. This event tends to draw upward of 1,000 attendees. All F48 committees and subcommittees are scheduled to discuss over half a dozen active exo technology-related work items.
Location:
Hyatt Regency Seattle, 808 Howell Street, Seattle, WA 98101, United States; You can register for the hotel now using an ASTM block package. In case some committees move to a virtual meeting, ASTM will handle hotel reservation cancellations. Committees will be locked in their decision no later than one month before the event.
Committee F48 will meet just one day after WearRAcon 22. There are seven direct flights from Arizona to Seattle which will give enough time to participate in both events.
Introduction to Committee Week – YouTube:

Information on April 22 Committee Week:
ASTM International Website: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/34277/
Schedule and Registration for F48:
Link: https://na.eventscloud.com/website/34277/F48/ Note that registration to ASTM International is not mandatory to attend this event. Participants can pre-register as non-members as well.

Webinar: Shaping the Future of Exoskeletons: BE-ST
2022-05-19 06:00 - 06:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Built Environment – Smarter Transformation (BE-ST), formally known as Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, has completed the UK’s first exoskeletons field lab trials for construction and manufacturing. This free-to-attend webinar will focus on what EXSKALLERATE has achieved so far, findings from the lab trials, and how you can explore exoskeletons in your own company through participation in the project.
Register: https://northsearegion.eu/exskallerate/news/shaping-the-future-of-exoskeletons-be-st-webinar-on-may-19th/
Supported by Interreg North Sea Region Programme through the EXSKALLERATE project, BE-ST is offering valuable trials for people in the construction sector looking to explore exoskeletons that support long-term health and safety benefits. Pilot sites are now being scoped, where you can trial the exoskeletons suits at your place of work or at BE-ST’s Innovation Factory at Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
At this webinar, you will hear findings from the UK’s first exoskeletons labs presented by partners from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), the University of Strathclyde, and BE-ST. There will be an opportunity to ask questions about the suits, the testing, and analysis so far and how you can shape the future of exoskeletons.
Pilot sites, where you can trial the exoskeletons at your place of work or at BE-ST, are available to SMEs in or near central Scotland. All trials, workshops, and demonstrations are completely free to you.
The webinar will be hosted by Alan Johnston, Impact Manager, Built Environment – Smarter Transformation
Speakers
Graeme Bisland, Senior Research & Development, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland
Prof. Xiu-Tian YAN, Professor in Mechatronic Systems Technology, Strathclyde University
Agenda

Project objectives and overview of exoskeleton suits
Field lab activity and analysis
Use Cases – opportunities and application
Research into “exo-suits for the construction industry”
Future engagement
Audience Q&A

This announcement was originally published at: https://northsearegion.eu/exskallerate/news/shaping-the-future-of-exoskeletons-be-st-webinar-on-may-19th/

IARx2022 First Ibero-American Symposium on Robotic Rehabilitation
2022-05-23 04:00 - 2022-05-26 08:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
EXOesqueleto REHAB in collboration with LATAMNOVA.TECH, is organizing the First Ibero-American Symposium on Robotic Rehabilitation from May 23-26, 2022, via streaming. The main objective of the symposium is to promote the use of healthcare robotics technology at a Latin American level. To achieve this, the organizers have confirmed world-class experts such as Ángel-Gil Agudo (president of the Ibero-American Association of Supportive Technologies for Disability ) and Marie André Destarac (Dr. in Robotics and Project Manager of Marsi Bionics, creators of the first exoskeleton for children in the world).
IARx2022 will be a virtual Symposium that will take place over four half-days from May 23 to 26, 2022 starting at 9:00 AM Chile time (GMT -3). There will be a different theme for each day (from healthcare robotics to local experiences), including at the end of each day a round table to exchange opinions (along with guests, directors, and persons of interest). You can find an extensive brochure with all speakers, additional information, and registration at the IARx2022 website hosted on LATAMNOVA: link.
The majority of IARx2022 presentations will be in Spanish.
Why Ibero-America?
The First Ibero-American Symposium on Robotic Rehabilitation organizers see a significant gap between the technological utilization, such as medial exoskeletons, in Spain and Latam. IARx2022 is an opportunity to transfer positive experiences from Europe to Latam. The organizers see a delay in leveraging rehabilitation robotics in Latam in particular. The event aims to address the lack of technical knowledge and the perception of high or unattainable investment thresholds. The symposium will increase visibility and awareness of the new technological capabilities and gather vendors who develop innovation while fine-tuning the financial analysis related to investing in the top physical rehabilitation technology. These insights are meant to provide the end-users with the best solutions possible.
About the Organizer
LATAMNOVA.TECH is in the area of conferences and consulting on technology, Industry 4.0, and digital transformation. The company has 15 years of experience helping Ibero-American and global companies address their productive challenge through consultancy services and training programs.

Presentation: Human-Centered Design of Exoskeletons
2022-06-02 10:40 - 23:40 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is hosting a free one-hour public session of the meeting of the Board on Human-Systems Integration. The topic of choice will be a discussion of a potential project on human-centered design principles for the development and application of powered and passive exoskeleton technology.
The discussion will look at what the future of work could look like? How can we keep improving labor-intensive activities that are known to lead to ergonomics-related worker risk for injuries?
The event will be led by Christopher Reid, HFES – Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, and Dr. William S. Marras from the Spine Research Institute, The Ohio State University for The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Board of Human Systems Integration (BOHSI). The presentation will be open to the public for virtual attendance.
Time: June 2, 2022; 10:40-11:40 AM EDT
Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/human-centered-design-of-exoskeletons-tickets-344799573807
Why this presentation could be of interest:
Both presenters have years of experience in evaluating exoskeleton technology. There is ample evidence to demonstrate that earlier design validation with test users leads to better product results. It is curious what these two experts have to say on the subject and how they envision both the future of exoskeleton technology and the integration of human evaluation earlier in the design and prototype stages.

EUROBENCH 2022 SUMMIT
2022-06-21 00:00 - 2022-06-22 09:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
The EU-funded EUROBENCH project will host a “EUROBENCH Final Even” this June 21-22, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. The summit will have a digital component through YouTube:

EUROBENCH Summit Tuesday 21, June 2022: Link to YouTube
EUROBENCH Summit Tuesday 22, June 2022: Link to YouTube

The online component of the summit will be free to access. EUROBENCH is working to create a benchmarking framework for robotic systems in Europe, including exoskeletons. The summit will bring together all the involved entities and many companies and researchers involved with the project.
Agenda:
There are a total of 17 talks planned for this event. The full agenda can be found on the EROBENCH website (link). The talks focused on exoskeletons and wearable robotics will be mainly during the first day and include a wearable robots session centered around balance while using exoskeletons, moving through narrow spaces, measuring upper limbs involvement, benchmarking exoskeleton-assisted gait, navigating stairs, and resilience (presumably of the wearable devices). Additional sessions will include human-robot interactions (which could include cobots and other non-wearable devices), regulations, and performance. Both days will include a 2-hour lunch for networking, for those attending the event in person.
About EUROBENCH:
Thanks to the collaboration of the funded entities, EUROBENCH has developed:

Two Testing Facilities, one for wearable robots (located in the Hospital Los Madroños, in Brunete, Spain) and the other for humanoid robots (located in the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, in Genova, Italy), to allow perform standardized tests on robotic prototypes in a unique location, saving resources and time.
A unified Benchmarking Software, which includes: 1) common protocols to execute standardized tests in any lab setting, 2) computational tools to compute performance scores according to quantitative Performance Indicators, and 3) a unified database to compare the performance results with other systems.

This final event aims to bring together all the entities that have participated in the development of EUROBENCH. All companies and researchers in the field of robotics are also welcome! It is an essential meeting for robotics benchmarking in Europe.
For more information, follow this link to the EUROBENCH Summit website.

ExoBerlin 2022
2022-10-11 - 2022-10-12 | Rudower Chaussee 17, 12489 Berlin, Germany, Rudower Chaussee 17, 12489, Berlin, Germany
ExoBerlin is moving from October 2021 to October 2022.
Save the date for the International Exhibition and Conference for Exoskeleton & Human Augmentation Systems (ExoBerlin). ExoBerlin 2020 was one of many in-person events that were canceled in 2020 following the Covid-19 restrictions issued by the German Government. The third iteration of the event will have another go-at-it on December 19 and 20, 2021. You can find more information about the event on the ExoBerlin website.
While the Exoskeleton Report team was not able to attend the 2019 event, Matthias Bey stepped up to the plate and has written a wonderful recap (with an entire picture gallery) of the conference: EXOberlin 2019 – Onsite Report
ExoBerlin is envisioned to be a gathering centered around exoskeletons, wearable assistive devices, intelligent artificial limbs, wearable sensors, and smart fabrics. Additional topics will likely include performance monitoring, motion analysis, human-robot interactions, biologically-inspired systems, and physical rehabilitation. All of these are topics relevant to the wearable robotics industry.
The plan is to have the event structured like WearRAcon and ErgoX: the main exhibition floor with concurrently running technology talks.
Ticket sales are scheduled to go live in July 2021.

ErgoX Symposium 2022
2022-10-14 08:00 - 2022-10-15 17:00 (Atlantic/South_Georgia) | Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, GA, USA, Atlanta, GA, United States
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society is hosting an in-person ErgoX Symposium, which will include an entire one-day track on exoskeletons and exosuit technology. The ErgoX Symposium will take place between October 14 and 15, with educational tracks on cybersecurity, extended reality, exoskeletons, and robotics. The Exoskeleton Track will take place on Saturday, October 15, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. It is sponsored by the ASTM Exo Technology Center of Excellence.
The theme for this year will be “Blending Worlds – The Evolving Ecosystem of Exoskeletons.” It is hosted again by Chris Reid, who has done a fantastic job leading and organizing prior iterations. The Exoskeleton Report team has had the pleasure of attending ErgoX in person in 2018 (link) and virtually (link). This year, ErgoX will again be held in person, providing ample opportunities for wearing new exoskeletons and networking. For North America, the HFES ErgoX Exoskeleton track in the fall is a perfect counterbalance to WearRAcon in the spring.

“First held in 2015 and over time formalizing into a user-centered design meeting in 2018, the ErgoX Symposium has demonstrated that a symbiotic approach to improving the design of technology and equipment is possible. With the goal to improve safe and effective technology user adoption, ErgoX offers a virtual and physical space to showcase the latest in technology evolution, research, and application and their intersection with human-system interaction and integration.”
This year’s Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Thomas Karakolis. He will present “Military Exoskeletons and What Will it Take for them to be Adopted?” Scheduled presentations will include field and research evaluations, brain-machine interfaces for powered exoskeletons, human-system integrations, and lessons learned from occupational exo deployment.
Location:
The 2022 ErgoX Symposium takes place immediately following the 66th Annual Meeting of HFES at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, GA, USA.

Information and Registration:
https://www.ergox2022.org/exoskeletons

Webinar: Ergonomic and Workplace Wearables With Arnaud Daurat CEO at Exxovantage
2022-10-31 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | IL
The New Zealand-based ergonomics solutions provider ShopCare has invited the CEO of Exxovantage to a webinar on the emerging opportunities for exoskeleton technology to reduce injuries in manufacturing and logistics.
The webinar will cover “key elements and share insights, on the trending challenges logistics, manufacturing and retail share and how we solve those challenges and exceed the organisations KPIs.”
It is usually challenging to tie existing Key Performance Indicators (KPI) with exoskeleton use. KPI’s for a production plant can include online delivery, total labor cost, or recordable injury rates. It would be interesting to see how New Zealand companies plan to capture the use of exos on a site’s KPI.
Registration:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TOTaUmrqRK65n2w5iuLrFw
Nov 1, 2022 11:00 AM in Auckland, Wellington
About Exxovantage:
Exxovantage increases workers’ safety, productivity, longevity and wellbeing as well as staff engagement, attraction and retention while reducing costs, injuries and damaged goods claims in logistics, manufacturing and retail.

Symposium on Medical Devices of the Future
2022-11-01 - 2022-11-02 | Sheraton New Orlens Hotel, 500 Canal St,, New Orleans, LA, 70130, United States
ASTM International’s committees E08 on Fatigue and Fracture, F04 on Medical and Surgical Materials and Devices, and F48 on Exoskeletons and Exosuits are proud to announce a joint Symposium on Medical Devices of the Future – What’s Needed for Fatigue, Fracture Resistance, and Durability in Transportation, Medical Devices, and Exoskeletons. The symposium will be held on Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon November 1st and 2nd, 2022. The event will be held in conjunction with the standards development meetings of the committees.
Objective and Scope
Invited speakers will present contemporary design and material requirements and address methodologies in fatigue crack initiation, crack propagation, and failure analyses employed in ground vehicle, aircraft, aerospace, medical devices, etc. that may be employed in exosuits and exoskeletons
Topics for this symposium may include:

Environmental Parameters / Material Behavior
Standard Methodologies to Characterize Materials Employed in Medical and Exoskeleton/Exosuit Design
Strain-based and Stress-based Fatigue Behavior
Fracture Mechanics Behavior
Deformation Characteristics
Characterization of Material/Device for Design Reliability,
Mean Strain, Mean Stress Response of Nitinol
Lifetime Prediction Techniques for Medical and Exoskeleton/Exosuit Devices
Metallurgy, Microstructures and Mechanical Properties Processing Parameters / Material Behavior
Simulation Characterizations and Applications to Design and Prediction
Material Selection for Biocompatibility and/or Wearability

For hotel and registration information please visit the ASTM International website after August: link.
About the Event
“The Symposium on Medical Devices of the Future – What’s Needed for Fatigue, Fracture Resistance and Durability in Transportation, Medical Devices, and Exoskeletons, will be held Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, November 1-2, 2022. Sponsored by ASTM Committees E08 on Fatigue and Fracture, F04 on Medical and Surgical Materials and Devices, and F48 on Exoskeletons and Exosuits, the symposium will be held at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, LA, in conjunction with the November standards development meetings of the committees.” – ASTM International

VERTEX - US Army Industry Workshop
2022-12-07 - 2022-12-08 | Austin, Texas
The US Army Futures Command will host VERTEX Human Performance: An exclusive 2-day workshop to explore the next generation of human performance technologies. The workshop will take place from Dec 7 to 8, 2022. This is an invitation-only type of workshop, limited to 150 people, and the deadline to register to attend is November 10th, 2022.
This will not be a specific exoskeleton event. Instead, VERTEX will cover the broader human performance, which could include exoskeletons, exosuits, and wearable robotics. This event could help newcomers to understand what US Army Futures Command (AFC) is looking for.
For registration and more information, visit: https://armyfuturescommand.com/vertex/

Special thanks to Rita (Rita Gonzalez) Vazquez-Torres for highlighting this workshop. Rita is a Senior Technology and Programs Strategist with 20+ years of entrepreneurial government Science and Technology Policy and leadership experience and CEO for NewStoneSoup VT LLC. Rita has served as Senior Industrial Security/Special Security for Special Programs; Business Development/Strategic Outreach Liaison, and team leader. more…

Webinar: Buy America for Exoskeletons by ASTM International
2023-03-15 09:30 - 10:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
ASTM International is proud to host the webinar titled Buy America: Domestic Preferences for Exoskeleton Procurements.
This webinar could be vital and informative for exoskeleton producers, suppliers, and investors if they have any aspirations to sell wearables to the US government. It is cumbersome, but those wishing to engage in sales with US government agencies may be required to explain where their exoskeletons were made and sourced. Just like dealing with the FDA for medical exoskeletons, it is better to know in advance what requirements may be placed on exoskeleton developers and their products. ASTM International is providing this webinar free of charge, but registration is required.
“During this webinar, you’re going to be able to understand how sourcing and manufacturing components for your exoskeletons can potentially exclude you from prospective customers. As you know, the [US] government spends a lot of money buying things and often sets numerous requirements for the things that it buys, and that includes exo technology. They focus not only on safety and environmental sustainability but also things like ‘where did materials come from’ and ‘where were these materials transformed and manufactured into the final product?’ The ASTM International Buy America: Domestic Preferences for Exoskeleton Procurements webinar will go over these types of requirements, how they could be applied to you in your industry, as well as what they could mean for you as an exoskeleton developer. We hope you join the webinar.” – Nora Nimmerichter, Technical Committee Operations Manager at ASTM International via LinkedIn.
About the Presenter:
“Paul Hurst serves as the chair of Steptoe’s Government Contracts Group. He’s ranked in Chambers USA, and their recent client feedback said he ‘is extremely knowledgeable about all of the complex government regulations that deal with contracting and matters related to small business association contracts.’ Legal 500 US noted Paul attracts praise for his ‘deep knowledge’ and ‘keen analysis of the issues.’ He has significant experience in complex civil litigation and regularly represents government contractors in the defense, construction, and healthcare industry. He litigates bid protests at the General Accountability Office, the Court of Federal Claims, the Small Business Administration, and state and local forums, as well as disputes involving contracts, fraud, construction-related claims, RICO, and intellectual property pending in federal courts and state courts across the nation. Paul also has substantial experience with other government contracts-related litigation, ADR, and proceedings, including claims, internal investigations, government audits and investigations, reverse FOIA matters, and civil False Claims Act and qui tam actions. He also counsels clients on matters relating to federal procurement statutes and regulations, including compliance, contract changes, the False Claims Act, the Anti-Assignment Act, Small Business contracting, federal procurement, procurement integrity, and corporate counseling for mergers and acquisitions involving government contractors. Paul previously participated in the firm’s Legal Aid Loaned Associate Program. As a loaned associate, he gained a tremendous amount of trial experience representing indigent clients in matters pending before the Superior Court for the District of Columbia.”
About Buy America:
Not to be confused with “Buy American,” the Buy America Act was established in 1982 mainly to regulate steel and transportation supplies. Over time, however, it has expanded to include some fabric materials, and its requirements have seeped to touch wearables and exoskeleton products. For those looking to make and sell exoskeletons for US government agencies, such as the Army, it is vital to know in advance what expectations might be placed upon them.
Registration link:
You can register for ASTM International Buy America: Domestic Preferences for Exoskeleton Procurements Webinar here: link
Time: Wed, Mar 15, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM PDT

SAIF Webinar Emerging Safety Technologies
2023-03-28 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Sarah Ballini-Ross Holding An Exosuit LinkedIn2023
Sarah Ballini-Ross, expert in exoskeleton adoption and Safety Advancement and Innovation Project Coordinator at SAIF, will host a free webinar on emerging safety technologies.
The technologies in question will be Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), drones, and of course, exoskeletons and exosuits. The webinar will be entirely focused on how these emerging technologies can be applied towards injury prevention.
The speaker has years of hands-on experience applying safety innovative technologies at everything from single-family farms to large businesses. The webinar is brought by SAIF, with the purpose of gaining greater understanding of the benefits to workplace safety that these emerging technologies may offer. Webinar topics will include where to find additional information, how to asses the technology readiness level, and which ones may also boost efficiency and productivity in addition to improving safety.
Register here: Link or here https://lnkd.in/gCvt5u_T
About SAIF
SAIF Corporation is Oregon’s not-for-profit workers’​ comp company. Our vision is to make Oregon the safest and healthiest place to work.

WearRAcon 2023
2023-03-30 - 2023-03-31 | Hyatt Regency New Orleans, 601 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70113
The largest conference dedicated to exoskeleton technology for the North American continent, WearRAcon 23, will occur this year from Thursday to Friday: March 30 – 31st, 2023. The first WearRAcon was held in 2016, and rain or shine, the conference has been held either virtually or in-person yearly ever since.
There are two major changes for the 8th iteration of the Wearable Robotics Association Conference (WearRAcon): First, for the first time ever, the conference will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana, rather than the usual Scottsdale, Arizona, location. The change was done to accommodate those attending the Applied Ergonomics Conference at the same venue. This way, attendees interested in ergonomics can also do a deep dive into the world of exoskeletons, and those with interest in occupational and industrial exoskeletons could also learn about the latest practical applications. For the second major change, WearRAcon will be condensed from two and a half days to two days.
WearRAcon is an important conference to calibrate one’s understanding of the latest in exoskeleton technology over the year. The Exoskeleton Report team has missed the event only one time ever due to unavoidable circumstances.
This year’s keynote speaker is scheduled to be Dr. John Howard, the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
NIOSH has expressed an active interest in industrial exoskeletons and has been collecting data on their use. In the U.S., exoskeleton producers have been forging ahead with industrial devices, relying on direct sales. Unlike the EU government, which has financed wearable robotics studies and technology groups (mainly through its Horizon Program), the U.S. civilian government agencies have been mostly on the sidelines. Therefore this keynote presentation could be a unique and valuable peek into their unique perspective.
More information:

To join the event, all information for registration is available here: http://www.wearablerobotics.com/wearracon23/registration/
Tentative Conference Agenda: http://www.wearablerobotics.com/wearracon23/agenda/
Link to the hotel room block: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/MSYRN/G-II23
Sponsorship Opportunities: http://www.wearablerobotics.com/wearracon23/sponsorship-opportunities/

Coverage of past WearRA conferences:

Recap of WearRAcon 21 Day Two
First Day Of The Wearable Robotics Conference, WearRAcon 21
WearRAcon 20 Day Two Report
HeroWear Reveals the Apex Exosuit at WearRAcon 20
WearRAcon 20 Day One Report
Wearable Robotics Association Conference – WearRAcon19 – Day 3
The Fourth WearRAcon Innovation Challenge was the Best One Yet!
Wearable Robotics Association Conference – WearRAcon19 – Day 2
Wearable Robotics Association Conference – WearRAcon19 – Day 1

WearRAcon18 Day Three Report
WearRAcon18 Innovation Challenge
WearRAcon18 Day Two Report
WearRAcon18 Day One Report
WearRAcon17 Day Three Report
WearRAcon17 Day Two Report
WearRAcon17 Day One Report
WearRAcon16 Day Three Report
WearRAcon16 Innovation Competition
Laevo Presentation and Demo at WearRAcon16
WearRAcon16 Day 2 Report
WearRAcon16 Day 1: Report

11th F48 Meeting, Spring 2023 ASTM Committee Week
2023-04-19 - 2023-04-21 | Sheraton, Denver, Colordo, Denver, CO, United States
The 11th ASTM International Committee F48 on Exoskeletons and Exosuits will be held in conjunction with ASTM committee week this April in Denver, Colorado. This meeting will take face-to-face, without a hybrid component for members to join remotely.
By hosting the meeting during Committee Week, F48 members will have the opportunity to connect and interact with other relevant ASTM members and workgroups, such as Committee F45 on Robotics. Committee Week usually hosts between 17 to 25 ASTM committees with attendee numbers ranging from 800 to 1400. The event is primarily focused on creating consensus-based standards.
Those interested in participating are advised to register online before the event, but registering at the door is also possible. The event is open to anyone, regardless of membership. There is no registration fee.
The event will be held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown. The cut-off date to make your hotel reservation is March 16th, 2023, or when the ASTM block is full.
To register online prior to the event, use the link below:
April 2023 Committee Week Registration and Meeting Information

I GOT LEGS: Exoskeleton Race - April 2023
2023-04-29 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
The next Exoskeleton Race, organized by I GOT LEGS, will be held from 12 pm-1 pm on April 29, 2023. There is a planned Facebook Live video feed on the I GOT LEGS Facebook page. The event will be divided into a virtual and in-person race.
The in-person Exo-Race will be part of the second day of the Clemson Palmetto Games held at Clemson University. As of three weeks before the event, two exo-racers are registered to go head-to-head on the field. The online component of the race, however, is expected to draw anywhere between 8 to 12 other exoskeleton racers doing the Virtual Race on the same day (April 29). A successful virtual race may draw more people to travel for future in-person interactions with the race.
I GOT LEGS plans to host a handful of Exoskeleton Races throughout the next couple of years. For more, read: Welcome to the World of Bionic Competition: The Exoskeleton Racing League.
Funds raised from the Virtual Race are meant to create future training programs, organize the next competitions, and build a community around this potential new sport for people with walking disabilities. The ultimate goal of the Exoskeleton Racing League (ERL) is to build enough support and data to create a new Paralympic sport “designed to empower individuals with paralysis to stand, walk, and race using cutting-edge exoskeleton technology.”
“When I am standing and walking in my robotic exoskeleton, I do not feel disabled, nor do I feel able-bodied; I feel ReEnabled,” Adam Gorlitsky, Founder of I GOT LEGS. Adam has completed multiple marathons over the last six years using his ReWalk Robotics powered exoskeleton.
It is not too late to register for either the 1-mile or 5-km events. Just go to: https://www.igotlegs.org/virtual5k.

5th Annual Human Performance & Biosystems Summit
2023-06-21 - 2023-06-22 | The Sunset Room, National Harbor, MD, 137 National Plaza, Oxon Hill, MD, Oxon Hill, 20745, United States
This June 21-22, 2023, the Defense Strategies Institute will run the 5th Annual Human Performance & Biosystems Summit. This two-day, in-person event will be strategically held at the National Harbor Marina, less than 10 miles from the US Capitol.
Historically, this summit has not been attended by many exoskeleton producers. However, the organizers of the event would like to change that. Enhancing and maintaining Warfighter performance during training and after deployment is something that exo technology is capable of doing. Both domestic and international military wearables developers have not given up on defense applications. While we may never see a wearable robot for active combat like in science-fiction movies, companies are still developing exoskeletons for gravity compensation, walking assistance for dismounted infantry, artillery setup and loading, and many others.
The summit aims to “bring together DoD, Military Research Labs, Industry, Academia, and Sports Medicine Professionals in a ‘Town-Hall’ style discussion to help facilitate conversations on the latest developments in human performance capabilities that ensure peak performance of the Warfighter.” Expect to see a representation of most, if not all, US Department of Defense branches.
Topics for the 2023 summit with potential relevance for exoskeleton technology:

Ready & Resilient: Driving DoD Optimization of Warfighter Performance Across a Broad Range of Operations
Tracking the Performance and Status of Soldiers During Training, Mission Planning, and Recovery
TRADOC Strategy: Leading the Army’s Culture Shift on Health and Fitness

The 5th Annual Human Performance & Biosystems Summit is complementary and free of charge to all DoD and Federal Government employees. It is an opportunity for the government and subject matter experts to connect, and the town-hall style of the presentations is meant to encourage a two-way flow of communication. Furthermore, the agenda is purposely designed to provide ample networking opportunities.
The summit is closed to the media, so ExR must sit this out. US Citizens and NATO Citizens are welcome to attend. Learn much more on the Defense Strategies Institute website: https://humanperformance.dsigroup.org Early registration ends May 26th.

Exo Games 2023
2023-08-15 - 2023-08-17 | University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK, Lancashire, United Kingdom
The first-ever Exo Games will bring together STEM university student teams in a friendly head-to-head competition for wearable technology and ingenuity at the University of Central Lancashire, England. The event is planned for August 15-17, 2023. As of March 2023, there are seven teams registered from five different countries (US, UK, Brazil, Belgium, and India). The Exo Games are sponsored by ASTM International’s Exo Technology Center of Excellence (ET CoE).
The ET CoE recognizes the need to create an outlet for STEM students of wearable robotics and human interaction technology to break out from their respective silos in order to connect with peers, academics, and professionals. Students will also gain familiarity with the world of international standards. The test protocols created by ASTM Committee F48 on Exoskeletons and Exosuits will be used to structure the challenges and judging during the competition.
Each student team is expected to complete one exoskeleton for the competition that will be compatible with current off-the-shelf fall protection harnesses. The Exo Games will be divided into four main challenges:

Main Competition to build and test an exoskeleton device.
Design Competition to generate a virtual model that may predict the static and dynamic fit of the design.
Poster Competition to publicize the team’s work and illustrate how the design would be presented to a general audience unfamiliar with wearable technology.
Presentation Competition in which teams will give a short overview of their design and development process.

If you are curious, there are more detailed specifications for the 2023 Exo Games on the ET CoE LinkedIn page: link.
Key Individuals:
The Exo Games will not take place without the support of ASTM International and the main organizers: Matthew Dickinson, Senior Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire; William Billotte, Executive Director of Exo Technology Center of Excellence; and Nora Nimmerichter, Manager of Technical Committee Operations.
Rare Opportunity:
Historically, exoskeleton technology competitions have been few and far between. The Cybathlon, WearRA Innovation Challenge, and Toyota Mobility Challenge do not exclude student teams, but they could end up competing against companies and professionals. The last Applied College Exoskeleton (ACE) challenge was held in 2022, and there may not be another one for some time. This leaves the Exo Games as a rare opportunity for students to collaborate and learn about this emerging technology within the guides set by the competition.
Real-Life Applications
The Exo Games are built around exposing students to practical and realistic challenges and applications of exoskeleton technology. Simultaneously, the evaluation of the devices will be based on ASTM International standards and work items. Below are the tasks that users of the wearables the teams are designing are expected to perform:

Mobility challenge: sit-to-stand and walk.
Transferring a load while simulating additional safety gear (similar to a bomb disposal squad suit or working in a radioactive environment).
Palletization of boxes, akin to a warehouse and other logistical environments.
Dexterity test – can the exoskeleton user still perform fine manipulation, or is their attention or fine hand movement impeded by the student design device?

The expectation is for the exoskeleton devices in the competition to cost less than $2,000 to build and to challenge the participant’s knowledge of the human body and how it can be assisted in performing specific tasks.

12th F48 Meeting, Fall 2023
2023-09-13 - 2023-09-15 | University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK, Lancashire, United Kingdom
The 12th ASTM International Committee F48 on Exoskeletons and Exosuits Fall 2023 meeting is scheduled for September 13-15, 2023. The planned location for the meeting is the University of Central Lancashire, Lancashire, UK. Non-committee members are welcome to attend the meeting in person, but registering in advance will be appreciated. Unfortunately, the meeting won’t be back-to-back with the ExoGames, which are scheduled to take place one month earlier at the same location. This will be the first time F48 is meeting outside of the US.
More information and registration will be available on the F48 website (link) closer to the meeting date.
Why Attend?
The Exoskeleton Report has an entire section dedicated to standards news and initiatives (link), but why does it matter? In a nutshell, it comes to communication and accessibility. The first is obvious if every single of the over 120+ exoskeleton developers used their unique terminology, labeling, and description, it would be hard for interested parties to compare and contrast the different wearables. Improved accessibility is a little bit more abstract. In a nutshell, without standards, the responsibility falls on exoskeleton implementers to do all of the leg work: selection, safety verification, determining how to measure usability and success, etc… That is potentially a lot of duplicative work and responsibility, which has to be reproduced at each site that adopts exoskeletons. ASTM International has been working for years and has already published 22 exoskeleton voluntary standards to streamline and simplify the selection, maintenance, adoption, and eventual retirement of exoskeleton products.

REHACARE 2023
2023-09-13 - 2023-09-16 | Dusseldorf, Germany, Dusseldorf, Germany
REHACARE is not a dedicated conference for exoskeleton technology; however, it has been featuring more and more wearables in the past. Some exoskeleton organizations, like ASTM International’s Committee F48 on Exoskeletons and Exosuits, already consider REHACARE as an “exoskeleton event.” Videos of REHACARE 2022 show not only a multitude of medical exoskeletons but also some industrial/occupational devices as well (which may be been repurposed for physical rehabilitation).
REHACARE International is billed as one of the world’s largest (if not the largest) trade fairs for physical rehabilitation, inclusion, and care. It is held annually in Düsseldorf, Germany, and normally attracts tens of thousands of exhibitors and attendees.
Main Trade Fair website: https://www.rehacare.com

ErgoX 2023
2023-10-23 | IL
The 9th ErgoX Symposium will be held immediately before the 67th Annual Meeting of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES). ErgoX 2023 will be held in Washington, DC, at the Washington Hilton Hotel, on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. Unfortunately, this will be the same time WearRAcon Europe and ExoBerlin are scheduled. It is highly improbable that the only three conferences dedicated to exoskeleton technology in the fall of 2023 will take place simultaneously, but somehow it has happened.
Similarly to before, ErgoX will include four separate tracks dedicated to cybersecurity, exoskeletons, extended reality, and robotics. This year, ErgoX will be held in person again, providing ample networking opportunities and personally donning wearables.
“First held in 2015 and over time formalizing into a user-centered design meeting in 2018, the ErgoX Symposium has demonstrated that a symbiotic approach to improving the design of technology and equipment is possible. With the goal to improve safe and effective technology user adoption, ErgoX offers a virtual and physical space to showcase the latest in technology evolution, research, and application and their intersection with human-system interaction and integration.”
“As an annual activity designed to showcase and apply the latest ergonomics science to workplace health, safety, wellness, and injury-prevention issues across a variety of domains and settings, ErgoX aims to address the demand for safe and effective technology development found through a multi-disciplinary and cross-market collaboration of cognitive and physical research and their resulting application to end user technology adoption. “
HFES offers detailed and free-of-charge meeting notes from the previous ErgoX symposiums:

2018 ErgoX Proceedings
2020 ErgoX Proceedings
2021 ErgoX Proceedings
2022 ErgoX Proceedings

Visit the HFES ErgoX Symposium page for the latest.

WearRAcon Europe 2023
2023-10-24 - 2023-10-25 | IL
The Wearable Robotics Association Conference European Edition 2023 will take place this year in conjunction with the A+A Trade Fair, Tuesday through Friday, October 24- 27, 2023, in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The conference will be held with the support of Dr. Urs Schneider, Director of the Health Technology Division at Fraunhofer IPA in Stuttgart, famous for the ExoWorkAthlon (link) multi-person live demonstration of occupational exoskeleton testing. Additional information on WearRAcon Europe 23 will be upcoming.
Schedule and Speakers:
WearRAcon Europe (or Exo Park) will be a two-day conference on October 25-26 (Wed – Thu). The tentative schedule (link) includes over 30 separate speaker sessions to choose from, putting on par with any of the WearRA US events.
About WearRAcon Europe
WearRAcon Europe is an annual event organized by the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA) and the University of Stuttgart’s Institute of Industrial Manufacturing and Management (IFF), in close collaboration with the global exoskeleton interest group, the Wearable Robotics Association (WearRA). “It aims to present European aspects of the latest innovations in wearable robotics, with a particular focus on occupational exoskeletons, and foster interactions between wearable robotics professionals, end-users from the industry, experts from the academia, and representatives from governmental agencies.”
About A+A
WearRAcon Europe 2023 will take place at the same time as the prestigious A+A trade fair on personal protection, occupational safety, and health at work. The organizers of A+A believe that “improving productivity and business success is unavoidably connected with work safety.”
Product groups: anti-slip mats, ear protectors, fire protection, flooring, hand trucks, helmets, marking products, protective clothing, respirators, safety gloves, safety shoes, vehicles, and working clothes…
Industry sectors: Environment, Fire protection, Industrial Safety, Safety at work, …
Similar to other large trade fairs, the A+A conference will be spread around multiple presentation halls. As of the time of writing, it is unknown in which presentation hall WearRAcon Europe 2023 will be located.
Previous WearRAcon Europe Events:

2021: WearRAcon Europe 2021 took place as a virtual event. International representatives of various industrial exoskeleton application sectors reported on their experiences in developing, implementing, and evaluating exoskeleton systems. Further exoskeleton research topics, such as exosuits, digital biomechanics, as well as human factors influencing acceptance, were discussed extensively. Notably, the Laevo Flex was introduced to the public for the first time at the event (link).The 2021 edition also saw the first iteration of the EXOWORKATHLON®, a physical live experiment putting commercial exoskeletons to the test, which was held in conjunction with the conference.
2020: WeRob and WearRAcon Europe joined forces together to create a four-day virtual conference on exoskeletons, wearable robotics, rehabilitation devices, orthotics, and neuro-rehabilitation held in parallel with the 2020 International Conference on Neurorehabilitation. Keynote speakers include Matt Marino from HeroWear, Prof. Arun Jayaraman, hailing from the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, and Prof. Roger Gassert, ETH Zurich.
2019: WearRAcon Europe 19 was held November 19-20, 2019, in collaboration with WearRAcon, Fraunhofer IPA, and the University of Stuttgart. WearRAcon Europe was seen as a regional event that enabled the European community to participate, exchange ideas, and collaborate in this growing wearable robotics field. Attendees heard from renowned exoskeleton pioneers like Thomas Sugar, ASU ,and Robert Riener, ETH Zurich.

National Ergo Conference
2023-11-08 - 2023-11-10 | Ceasars Forum, Las Vegas, Nevada, US, Las Vegas, United States
ErgoExpo this year will feature several talks on occupational and industrial exoskeletons. While the conference isn’t solely focused on wearable robotics, the subject will be prominently discussed.
A prevailing challenge in the industry continues to be accurately matching exoskeleton devices to specific tasks. Expert discussions at the event are crucial, coupled with the need for broader awareness of practical exoskeleton technology. Occupational wearables promise to reduce worker injuries and redefine physical labor, but their potential can only be realized when more professionals become familiar with and understand them.
About ErgoExpo:
National Ergo Conference, November 8-10, 2023, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, Nevada, US
National Ergo is billed as the US’ longest-running ergonomics event and trade show. It offers the Ergonomics community a platform to learn from industry leaders through over 40 educational sessions, keynotes, and workshops. The event encompasses a range of topics, from office seating to exosuits and work automation. Attendees can anticipate educational content, networking opportunities with professionals, and an exhibit hall showcasing a diverse array of ergonomic products and innovations. National Ergo 2023 serves as a comprehensive gathering for those in the field.
For registration, speakers, hotel block, and much more visit: http://ergoexpo.com

Featured image: Las Vegas Strip from Above by DAPA Images via Canva Pro

IBERDISCAP 2023 Conference
2023-11-20 - 2023-11-22 | São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC/USP), São Carlos, Brazil
Announcing the XII – Congreso Iberoamericano de Tecnologías de Apoyo a la Discapacidad (Ibero-American Association of Support Technologies for Disability) IBERDISCAP 2023 conference. The conference is organized by Asociación Iberoamericana de Tecnología de Apoyo a la Discapacidad (AITADIS) and the Brazilian Association of Engineering and Mechanical Sciences (ABCM). The event will be held on November 20 – 22, 2023, in Sao Carlos, State of Sao Paulo – Brazil.
This congress promotes various themes, among which are:

Evaluation of support and rehabilitation technologies
Exoskeletons for rehabilitation
Robotics in rehabilitation
Human-machine interfaces
Stimulation and decoding of the central nervous system in Neurorehabilitation

Website: registration, submissions, and information: https://eesc.usp.br/ceas/iberdiscap23/
Typically, medical exoskeleton-related conferences are in the U.S., West Europe, or China. Having a rehabilitation robotics conference for the second time (IARx2022 First Ibero-American Symposium on Robotic Rehabilitation was held in May 2022) is a welcomed development and proves that interest in what this technology can do for people is increasing.
IBERDISCAP 2023 Keynote Speakers
IBERDISCAP 2023 is scheduled to be a three-day conference with an additional two-day MYOREHAB Consortium workshop right after.

AExG Q4 2023 Quarterly Meeting
2023-12-13 08:00 - 09:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | IL
The next quarterly Automotive Exoskeleton Group (AExG) meeting will be held on December 13, 2023, at 10 am Pacific Time.
Please create a free account and register at aexg.org with your email to receive the meeting invite and other important information!
The one and a half hour webinar will be divided into short presentations, including a presentation on the A+A Trade Fair, ExoWorkAthlon, and WearRAcon 23 Europe:
“Don’t miss our upcoming quarterly meeting on Wednesday, Dec 13 at 1pm Eastern! We’ve got an exciting lineup of presentations, including field testing a low back exoskeleton in manufacturing & construction, an overview & results of the Exoworkathlon, and a summary of recent exoskeleton-related conferences and meetings. Join us to learn from Senior Human Performance Specialist Kevin Simonton, MS, CPE, ARM and Dr. Urs Schneider, Director of Medical & Biotech at Fraunhofer Institute, among others.” – Marisol Barrero.
About AExG

AExG is a Wearable Robotics Association sponsored, industry-inclusive group supporting the evolution of exoskeletons. Our vision is to promote quality of life through wearable technologies. We started this journey as a group of automotive manufacturers and are constantly evolving to include members from other industries who share our vision. AExG reflects our core values and is open, collaborative, unbiased, inclusive, respectful, constantly learning, seeks continuous improvement, conducts critical analysis, and holds practical beliefs for exoskeleton applications.

Adam Gorlitsky to Race the Charleston Half-Marathon With Exoskeleton
2024-01-20 | IL
The founder and powerhouse behind I Got Legs, Adam Gorlitsky, will be racing at the Charleston Half-Marathon this January 20th, 2024, in Charleston, South Carolina. Adam will be participating in the race to raise awareness and funds to expand access to walking-assist exoskeletons for para-athletes across the United States.
You can catch videos and updates on Adam’s progress on the I Got Legs Twitter (now X) account (link), or LinkedIn (link).
About I Got Legs:
Can you imagine a future in which paralyzed people can get up and compete just like Olympic racewalkers? What if that future is closer than we think? Dares to dream, I GOT LEGS, an organization dedicated to creating and promoting powered exoskeleton walking competitions.
The Global Innovation Challenge, CYBATHLON Exoskeleton Race, and the Exo Games are competitive events that aim to bring researchers and developers face-to-face with the challenges of everyday living or other similar tasks. In contrast, I GOT LEGS aims to create a brand new Paralympic sports discipline.
Funds raised from the Virtual Race are meant to create future training programs, organize the next competitions, and build a community around this potential new sport for people with walking disabilities.
The ultimate goal of the Exoskeleton Racing League (ERL) is to build enough support and data to create a new Paralympic sport “designed to empower individuals with paralysis to stand, walk, and race using cutting-edge exoskeleton technology.”
“When I am standing and walking in my robotic exoskeleton, I do not feel disabled, nor do I feel able-bodied; I feel ReEnabled,” Adam Gorlitsky, Founder of I GOT LEGS. Adam has completed multiple marathons over the last six years using his ReWalk Robotics powered exoskeleton.
I GOT LEGS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization “dedicated to ReEnabling the paralysis community to walk again,” with stated vision and goals to:

Turn Exoskeleton Racing into a Paralympic + collegiate adaptive sport.
Use the sport of Exoskeleton Racing as a catalyst to increase access to exoskeleton technology.
Use the sport of Exoskeleton Racing as a catalyst to advance breakthrough paralysis research.

The I GOT LEGS website correctly reminds its visitors that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not specifically prohibited using powered exoskeletons for sports or recreational activities. Still, it has not approved them for these purposes either, so using the device is considered “off-label” (see: Intended Use of the 11 FDA-Approved Medical Exoskeletons in 2023). The race organizers correctly state that current powered walking assist exoskeletons should be used with a qualified health professional and/or certified walking partner.
For more information, visit https://www.igotlegs.org or the I GOT LEGS YouTube Channel.

German Bionic Webinar: Industrial Exoskeletons: The Road to Adoption
2024-02-14 08:00 - 09:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
The powered back support exoskeleton producer German Bionic will be hosting three panelists, including Adam Norton, the Associate Director of the NERVE Center titled: Industrial Exoskeletons: The Road to Adoption.
Date: February 14th
Time: 8:00 PST |11:00 am EST | 5:00 pm CET
The webinar will be hosted by Meghan Kennelly, Head of Global Marketing at German Bionic. Discover insights from speakers Andrew Mason, Analyst at German Bionic, and Adam Norton, Associate Director of the UMass Lowell NERVE Center.
During the session, the webinar is scheduled to delve into the evolving landscape of exoskeletons and the pivotal role of standardization bodies. The goal is to gain a deeper understanding of regulatory frameworks and technological advancements shaping the future of occupational/industrial exoskeletons.
Register through the German Bionic website: link
“Explore the dynamic landscape of exoskeletons and the continuous evolution of standardization bodies dedicated to refining testing and evaluation methods in our latest webinar. Join German Bionic as we delve into the intricacies of the exoskeleton market, shedding light on the current organizations spearheading standardization protocols. Guest speaker, Adam Norton, Associate Director of the NERVE Center at UMASS Lowell, is bringing invaluable insights from his direct experience. Together, we’ll unravel the crucial role played by ASTM, an esteemed international standards organization, in shaping standards for exoskeletons across diverse applications and how adoption of these new technologies are closely related. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the advancements and regulatory frameworks shaping the future of exoskeleton technology!”

Global Innovation Challenge 2024 Entry Deadline Fast Approaching!
2024-02-28 | Global Innovation Challenge
The deadline to submit an entry for the Global Innovation Challenge 2024: Life Support Robot Contest is February 28th, 2024. This is a friendly competition for walking assist devices and solutions that can assist with the challenges of everyday living for individuals with lower limb paralysis. Technology solutions that assist with walking, such as exoskeletons, wearable robots, functional electrical stimulation (FES), and epidural electrical stimulation (EES), are the main targets for the completion. Companies and researchers developing such technology should look no further and use this opportunity to test their innovations in a real-world scenario while also being able to win prizes and gain recognition.
For more information visit: https://global-innovation-challenge.com/event_and_project/2024/GIC2024.html
The main contest venue will be the GIC Tsukuba Innovation Center in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, scheduled for June 2024. The contest field will be similar to that of previous interactions of the competition, a fabricated apartment with clear walls. See our previous coverage here.

Deadline: Call for Papers ICORR 2023 on Rehabilitation Robotics
2024-02-29 | Camebridge Press
Wearable Technologies, part of Cambridge University Press, has issued a special call for papers on rehabilitation robotics, including medical exoskeletons and wearables robotics. The papers will be included as part of the Special Issue on the International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics 2023 (ICORR 2023).
Deadline: February 29, 2024
More information at: Cambridge.org

Summary:
Rehabilitation robotics hold the promise of revolutionising both clinical settings and activities of daily living, yet adoption remains low. This Special Issue aims to foster collaborative discussion between academics, producers, clinicians, and contributors in this multi-disciplinary field.
This Special Issue is open to extended works that have been accepted for publication in the proceedings of the International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR) that will be held in Singapore in September 2023. Submissions must provide significant added contributions relative to the conference papers.
Potential topics include but are not limited to:

Design of novel wearable systems
Adaptive control strategies for rehabilitation exoskeletons and prostheses
Novel experimental methods for rehabilitation through wearable robots
Clinical trials using rehabilitation robots

Webinar: Exploring the ASTM Exo Games 2024
2024-03-19 07:30 - 08:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
The ASTM F48 Exo Technology Center of Excellence (ET CoE) is ramping up preparations for the second edition of the Exo Games! The center’s director, William “Bill” Billotte, and Ann Virts, robotics researcher at NIST plan to host an informative introductory webinar.
Exploring the ASTM Exo Games: An Informational Webinar will be held on Wednesday, March 19th, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time (7:30 p.m. PST).
This year’s Exo Games will focus on First Responders and how exoskeletons and wearable robotics should be evaluated. Leveraging the standards developed by Committee F48 on Exoskeletons and Exosuits will help college teams design, build, and assess exoskeleton solutions in a series of defined trials.
This webinar will provide a quick overview of the Exo Games, and how easy it is to participate. You can sign up for the webinar by following this link. This is your chance to:

Get an overview of the ASTM Exo Technology Center of Excellence (ET CoE)
A preview of what to expect at the Exo Games 2024
An interactive Q&A session to address your queries

About the Exo Games:
This a college-level event that is an opportunity for students to meet others interested in wearable physical augmentation technology and simultaneously learn how standards and benchmarking play a crucial role in emerging technology fields. The first Exo Games were held in Lancaster, UK in 2023 and you can read about them in our digital magazine: Vol 1 Issue Exoskeleton Report Digital Magazine on pages 4 through 6.
Important Dates:

April 5th Deadline: ASTM Exo Games Team Entry
ASTM Exo Games 2024 August 5 to August 8

About the Presenters:
Dr. William “Bill” Billotte is the Executive Director of the Exo Technology Center of Excellence and the Director of Global Exo Technology Programs at ASTM International. Bill leads a dynamic team that pursues a vision of people of all ages free to pursue high-quality life and participate fully in work and society thanks to safe and reliable exo technologies. He serves as an advisor to the Automotive Exoskeleton Group (AExG) and is a member of several standards committees including F48 on Exoskeletons and Exosuits. Prior to joining ASTM, Bill spent the past 17 years providing scientific and technical advice to federal agencies, first responders, and international organizations on topics including exoskeletons, critical infrastructure protection, CBRNE detection, and first responder equipment. Bill advocated and aided the establishment of the ASTM F48 committee and is working on their long term strategy and research agendas. He spent a year abroad as a visiting scientist on the European Union’s critical infrastructure protection team at the Joint Research Centre in Italy, where he provided technical assistance to their working groups to help inform EU policies and international standards. He sponsored a forum through the National Academy of Sciences to convene experts from the federal, private, international, and non-government sectors to exchange information and ideas to improve preparedness and capabilities for disasters that involve accidental or intentional contamination with CBRN agents. He coordinated programs that produced over 50 homeland security focused national standards and over 100 reports on first responder equipment. Bill has received several awards including the US Department of Commerce’s Gold Medal Award for Heroism. Bill holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Dayton, a Master in Science in Engineering from Wright State University, and a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from The Georgia Institute of Technology.
Dr. Ann Virsts is the project leader of the Mobility Performance of Robotic Systems at NIST. She leads the project by developing test methods, artifacts, and datasets that measure the performance and safety characteristics of mobile and wearable robots within manufacturing/industrial environments. Ann is also the Associate project leader for the Emergency Response Robots project in the Fire Risk Reduction in Communities program. She develops and implements robot test methods, interfaces with emergency responders and robot technology developers, and meets complex technical and logistical demands of demanding response robot field exercises. In addition to her emergency response robotics work. Ann’s past contributions include leading data collection efforts and participating in field exercises for several DARPA and Army Research Laboratory projects.
