【News】The world’s first product standard for wearable robots for lumbar support “JIS B 8456-1” was established
~ CYBERDYNE’s proposal led to its establishment and conversion to ISO standard~

A new standard, JIS B 8456-1 to prescribe safety, performance and labeling criteria of wearable robots for lumbar support, was established on October 20, 2017. CYBERDYNE, INC. (the “Company”) proposed the standardization of the relevant class of robots, which includes the Company’s HAL Lumbar Type for Labor/Care as well as  HAL Lumbar Type to Promote Independence (tentative name) and led this endeavor as a project leader. For this project, the group took the advantage of the New Market Creation Standardization System*1.

As the JIS B 8456-1 was established, makers are obliged to meet each of the following criteria when they intend to have their products certified and indicate the JIS marks on their labels.

-　　Fulfill safety requirements
–       Quantify and display amount of assistance upon lifting
–       Quantify and display amount of assistance while maintaining the posture
–       Quantify and display amount of assistance upon lowering
–       Quantify and display amount of compression reduced from the lumbar part while performing the above tasks

The Company took on the leading roles during this project to establish JIS B 8456-1 as listed below.

–       Proposed the requirements and items to be evaluated
–       Proposed the method of evaluation
–       Created the main clause of the draft
–       Prepared responses to the comments from each committee
–       Reflected the results of discussion at JIS Drafting Committee and its working group to the main clause
–       Prepared detailed design and production of the performance test machine

Further, the Company proposed the performance test of JIS B 8456-1 to ISO/TC 299/WG 4 towards international standardization, so that the new market could be created or expanded outside of Japan. The Company’s delegate is also the leading figure in this discussion.

*1 About the New Market Establishment Standardization System

Established in July 2014. New Market Establishment Standardization System is 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. The Company used this system upon establishment of the JIS B 8456-1

Please refer to the news release on December 25, 2015

http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/economy/hyojun/shinshijyo/index.html (In Japanese only)
https://www.cyberdyne.jp/english/company/PressReleases_detail.html?id=3852

*2 About the safety requirement of wearable robots for lumbar support

As a safety requirement of JIS B 8456-1, safety requirement items that are unique to the relevant robot were added on to the safety requirement of JIS B 8445 (JIS version of ISO 13482) and JIS B 8446-2 (low power restraint-type physical assistance robot). The Company joined the standardization projects on ISO 13482 since 2010 and took the leading role upon establishment of JIS B 8446-2.

Please refer to the news release on December 15, 2015

https://www.cyberdyne.jp/wp_uploads/2015/12/151215_JISニュースリリース-E.pdf