【News】Use of the New Market Establishment Standardization System approved ~ Leading the development of standards for restraint-type physical assistant robots for lumbar support ~

As the project leader, CYBERDYNE, Inc., (the “Company”) had applied for the use of the New Market Establishment Standardization System^*1 toward developing Japanese Industrial Standards (“JIS”) for restraint-type physical assistant robots (wearable robots) for lumbar support^*2 on October 22, 2015, and the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee deliberated and approved the motion on December 11, 2015. With this approval, the development of JIS for robots like the HAL for Labor Support (Lumbar Type) and HAL for Care Support (Lumbar Type) will begin. As a member of the Drafting Committee and other subcommittees, the Company plans to propose requirements and help design the foundations for the testing devices and testing methods.
　Currently, a number of companies have produced restraint-type physical assistant robots for lumbar support, but because there are no standards for their performance, measurement methods, indication, etc., users could not compare them fairly, creating an impediment to the expansion of the market. With the development of the JIS, fair comparisons can be made, and the advancement of reasonable competition among each company is expected. Furthermore, by attempting to standardize at an early stage, the development of JIS promotes the adjustment of national institutions for the restraint-type physical assistant robots for lumbar support, and eventually, it can lead to the creation and expansion of markets abroad.
　The Company will continue to contribute to the formation and expansion of a fair market for restraint-type physical assistant robots for lumbar support.

^*1 About the New Market Establishment Standardization System
　Established in July 2014. A system that allows for speedy JIS development without the need for a conventional formation of a consensus through an industry group. For example, the case where a single company that has strikingly advanced technology has difficulty making adjustments within the industry, or the case where drafting by small or medium companies is difficult, or the case where the technology spans several industries, may apply for use of this system for speedy JIS development.

^*2 About the JIS for restraint-type physical assistant robots for lumbar support
　With the theme 「Performance Requirements for Restraint-type Physical Assistant Robots for Lumbar Support」, this product standard will establish the performance criteria for items like the environment for use, assistive force, environmental resistance, time of continued use by a single charge of power, user interface, indication, etc.