Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to identify outcome measures that developers working in the area of wearable robots utilize during different phases of product development. Experts in the field were invited to complete a short, anonymous, online survey. The results presented in this study focus on answers that engineers working on exoskeletons for walking gave for three user relevant questions of that survey. The main results indicate that validation of exoskeletons developed for walking and for use in rehabilitation and functional assistance/augmentation does involve user-centered outcomes. However, a variety of outcomes are used, and those used to capture feedback from users are less likely to be based on validated measures. Guidelines as to tests on safety of exoskeletons also seem to lack standardization. Development of exoskeletons should involve the use of a set of standardized methods that take into account the needs and safety of the intended user during each iteration of the process.
This abstract is based upon work from COST Action CA16116, Wearable Robots for Augmentation, Assistance or Substitution of Human Motor Functions. supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Shore, L., Power, V., de Eyto, A., O’Sullivan, L.: Technology acceptance and user-centred design of assistive exoskeletons for older adults: a commentary. Robotics 7(1), 1–13 (2018)
Kaleshtari, M.H., Ciobanu, I., Seiciu, P.L., Marin, A.G., Berteanu, M.: Towards a model of rehabilitation technology acceptance and usability. Int. J. Soc. Sci. Humanit. 6(8), 612–616 (2016)
Victores, J., Jardón, A., Bonsignorio, F., Stoelen, M.F., Balaguer, C.: Benchmarking Usability of Assistive Robotic Systems: Methodology and Application, pp. 1–6 (2010). http://www.heronrobots.com/EuronGEMSig/downloads/Anchorage/ICRA10-experiments_final_uc3m.pdf
Koumpouros, Y.: A systematic review on existing measures for the subjective assessment of rehabilitation and assistive robot devices. J. Healthc. Eng. (2016). https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/1048964
Hill, D., Holloway, C.S., Morgado Ramirez, D.Z., Smitham, P., Pappas, Y.: What are user perspectives of exoskeleton technology? A literature review. Int. J. Technol. Assess. Health Care 33(2), 160–167 (2017)
Deng, W., Papavasileiou, I., Qiao, Z., Zhang, W., Lam, K., Han, S.: Advances in automation technologies for lower-extremity neurorehabilitation: a review and future challenges. IEEE Rev. Biomed. Eng. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1109/rbme.2018.2830805
Mudie, K.L., et al.: Consensus paper on testing and evaluation of military exoskeletons for the dismounted combatant. J. Sci. Med. Sport 21, 1154–1161 (2018)
Acknowledgment
We thank all participants of the study for sharing their knowledge and experiences.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Ármannsdóttir, A.L. et al. (2020). User Involvement, Device Safety, and Outcome Measures During Development of Walking Exoskeletons: Current Practices. In: Pons, J. (eds) Inclusive Robotics for a Better Society. INBOTS 2018. Biosystems & Biorobotics, vol 25. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24074-5_27
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24074-5_27
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-24073-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-24074-5
eBook Packages: Intelligent Technologies and RoboticsIntelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)