NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.
Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.
An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Cross-Industry Standard Test Method Developments – from Manufacturing to Wearable Robots
Published
Author(s)
Roger V. Bostelman, Elena R. Messina, Sebti Foufou
Abstract
Manufacturing robotics are moving towards human-robot collaboration with light duty robots being used side-by-side with workers. Similarly, exoskeletons that are both passive (spring and counterbalance forces) and active (motor forces) are worn by humans and move body parts. Exoskeletons are also called wearable robots when they are actively controlled using a computer and integrated sensing. Safety standards now allow, through risk assessment, both manufacturing and wearable robots to be used. However, performance standards for both systems are still lacking. Research to develop standard test methods to assess performance of manufacturing robots and emergency response robots that is underway can inspire similar test methods for exoskeletons. This paper describes recent research on performance standards for manufacturing robots, as well as search and rescue robots. It also provides a discussion on how performance of wearable robots can benefit from using the same test methods.
Proceedings Title
ICWSR 2015: International Conference on Wearable Sensor and Robot Workshop
Bostelman, R.
, Messina, E.
and Foufou, S.
(2016),
Cross-Industry Standard Test Method Developments – from Manufacturing to Wearable Robots, ICWSR 2015: International Conference on Wearable Sensor and Robot Workshop, Hangzhou, CN, [online], https://doi.org/10.1631/FITEE.1601316, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=919651
(Accessed October 10, 2025)