BEAT: Balance Evaluation Automated Testbed for the standardization of balance assessment in human wearing exoskeleton

Abstract

The absence of standardized methodologies for the assessment of wearable exoskeleton performance still represents the main issue to overcome for their complete spread in real life. From this perspective, EUROBENCH project purposes to create the first benchmarking for robots in Europe. Within this project, BEAT (Balance Evaluation Automated Testbed) aims at realizing a testbed to benchmark the ability of exoskeleton in assisting static and dynamic balance. The testbed consists in a robotic platform and standardized software routines for the computation of performance indices. The present paper aims at presenting the main outcomes of the BEAT project considering both the mechanical aspects of the moving platform, the embedded sensors systems, as well as the proposed testing protocols. Such outcomes could be useful for all researchers involved in the development of exoskeleton in order to provide specific guidelines for testing exoskeleton performance. In addition, they could represent a fundamental starting point for the definitive use of exoskeletons in daily life and not only in laboratory environments.