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Exoskeletons promise to merge robotic and human capabilities for rehabilitation, exploration, and industrial applications. The University of Central Lancashire and ASTM International’s Center of Excellence in Exo Technology have announced the winners of the 2023 Exo Games.
William Billotte, director of global exo technology programs at ASTM International, was one of the competition's judges. He described how it solidified students’ working knowledge of the field.
“We’re very passionate about STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics], and through this event, we’re connecting innovation and research with standards to help the students understand how they all work together,” he stated. “The Exo Games is a way to bring together the passion [and] the ideas and inspire people to do better.”
In the inaugural event, five student teams from the U.K., the U.S., Belgium, and Brazil competed in designing exoskeletons, testing them against standards and measures decided by ASTM International. Judging criteria for the physical challenges were based off the respective ASTM standards and included balance, repetition, safety, and adherence to the Exo Games specifications.
Students used over a dozen standards developed by ASTM’s F48 exoskeletons and exosuits committee to guide their designs, covering topics like wear, ergonomics, environmental conditions, and load handling.
The overall competition saw the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) take first place, followed by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in second and Clemson University in third. UCLan previously won an engineering award for an exoskeleton project in 2021.
Several other special awards were also given to the following teams:
Established in 2019, ASTM International’s Center of Excellence in Exo Technology (ET CoE) focuses on accelerating exoskeleton standards through research, education, workforce development, training certifications, and connecting global communities.
The ET CoE also created a report on exoskeleton producers in 2020 and offers a podcast on the topic.
ASTM said it welcomes participation from student members. It has various student chapters, including one at the University of Central Lancashire. Student membership includes access to literature, events, and opportunities for competition and publishing.
ASTM Exo Games 2023 was the very first time that the event has run. Five university teams participated in the exoskeleton competition.
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