Temple University's Prosthetics and Orthotics Club (TEMPO) claimed first place in its debut at the 2026 ASTM Exo Games, showcasing a student-designed exoskeleton developed to support first responders.
From left to right: Deepjal Siwa, Harshita Parmar, Syeda Akther and Ethan Buffo
Photo by Casey Tinney
The Temple University Prosthetics and Orthotics Club (TEMPO) took first place in this summer's Exo Games.
TEMPO, a student organization that focuses on education and development of assistive devices, was looking for more opportunities to get hands-on experience. Just before the end of the 2026 spring semester, they came across the perfect opportunity.
The Exo Games, sponsored by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International's Exo Technology Center of Excellence, invited student teams to design and construct a self-contained exoskeleton for first responders and then compete in multiple simulated emergency response tasks using that same exoskeleton.
"Exoskeletons have the potential to improve mobility, reduce physical strain and prevent injuries. Our goal is to develop technology that enhances human capabilities while prioritizing safety and comfort," said Harshita Parmar, a bioengineering student and president of TEMPO. She describes an exoskeleton as an external device that provides physical supports of varying types for the user.
The team, consisting of Parmar and fellow TEMPO members Ethan Buffo, Deepjal Siwa and Syeda Akther, quickly got to work writing a proposal to submit, including an abstract, design and calculations. A few weeks later, their proposal was accepted, and they moved on to the next round alongside three other teams, including one international team.
With all the participating TEMPO members also working summer jobs, they could only schedule a few meetings to build the exoskeleton in time for the competition on Monday, August 3, keeping within budget and making sure they adhered to ASTM standards.
The four-day competition consisted of a poster day and six physical challenges spread over the remaining three days. The physical challenges simulated real-life situations fire fighters face when responding to a call, such as carrying weight while moving through an obstacle course and walking over different levels of terrain while searching for an item, with judges counting reps and calculating points. Buffo donned the exoskeleton for team TEMPO, completing all the physical challenges.
The team kept the first responder user in mind when designing the exoskeleton. Putting the user first was one of TEMPO's key takeaways from the competition.
"Our priority was designing around the needs of first responders. We focused on a compact, lightweight design that could provide assistance without restricting movement, while using biomechanics to improve load distribution and reduce physical strain," said Parmar.
TEMPO's design utilized an aluminum plate against the back to keep the user's spine straight with two elastic bands attached to gloves worn by the user. Elastic bands also came down to cuff under the knee, making stairs easier to navigate.
"From an engineering perspective, we focused on reducing the mechanical strain placed on the body during physically demanding tasks," said Parmar. " By incorporating elastic elements and designing around load distribution, we aimed to reduce the effort required during lifting and movement."
TEMPO pulled ahead to first place on the last day of the Exo Games, receiving medals and a trophy for their win. "Winning first place in our very first Exo Games was an incredible milestone for TEMPO. Despite balancing internships and other responsibilities, our team brought an idea to life and demonstrated what student engineers can accomplish through collaboration and determination," said Parmar.
While they hope to compete again next year, TEMPO has switched their focus to their academic year project with TechOWL, designing adaptive zippers and nail clippers. Members learn design principles and software, as they work with a team to eventually 3D print their designed item for TechOWL. A collaborative group open to all majors, TEMPO is always seeking new members.