The F45.07 Robotics Applications Subcommittee will develop standards for A-UGVs such as this Husky agricultural robot. Source: Clearpath
As robots spread from factories and warehouses to fields, standards need to keep up. ASTM International today said it has approved the formation of a new subcommittee on robotics applications. Its goal is to provide a venue where representatives from a variety of industries can come together to develop standards specific to their sectors.
The new subcommittee will enable ASTM members to address robotics applications in oil and gas, agriculture, construction, solar, and nuclear, according to Adam Norton, chair of the organization‘s F45 Robotics, Automation, and Autonomous Systems Committee.
“The portfolio of F45 standards to date have been intentionally developed to be general so they can be easily adapted to particular applications,” stated Norton, who is also associate director of the New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
Robotics Applications Subcommittee to build on existing standards
The Robotics Applications Subcommittee will use existing standards to develop new ones that include specifications, guides, and test methods. These standards will address the needs of specific applications of robotics, automation, and autonomous systems, said ASTM.
“Several task groups for each application area are in the process of being formed, led by subject-matter experts (SMEs) who will not only develop standards within the subcommittee, but also advise as SMEs to other subcommittees,” said Norton.
The subcommittee plans to launch with an initial focus on solar, construction, and agricultural applications. All interested parties are invited to join F45.07.
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ASTM adds automation subcommittees
The Robotics Applications Subcommittee will join other subcommittees under ASTM F45, including:
- F45.01 Environmental Conditions and Effects
- F45.02 A-UGV (automatic uncrewed ground vehicle) Docking and Navigation
- F45.03 A-UGV Object Detection and Protection
- F45.04 System Communication and Interoperability
- F45.05 Grasping and Manipulation
- F45.06 Legged Robot Systems
- F45.90 Executive Subcommittee
- F45.91 Terminology
“Robotics and automation continue to expand into new industries and sectors,” said Aaron Prather, director of robotics and autonomous systems programs at ASTM International. “We have identified that some of these industries need additional standards, guides, and best practices on top of the existing robotics standards to succeed.”
“This new subcommittee under F45 will allow those industries to have their subject matter experts work with robotics and automation experts to develop that extra layer to speed up robot and automation deployments,” he said. “It is truly a win-win for both those industries and the companies that want to help deploy robots within those industries.”
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