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The F45.07 Robotics Applications Subcommittee will develop standards for A-UGVs, such as this Husky agricultural robot. Source: Clearpath
As robots proliferate from factories and warehouses to the field, standards must keep up. ASTM International announced today that it has approved the formation of a new subcommittee on robotics applications. The goal is to provide a venue for representatives from various industries to come together and develop industry-specific standards.
According to Adam Norton, chair of ASTM’s F45 Committee on Robotics, Automation and Autonomous Systems, the new subcommittee will allow ASTM members to address robotics applications in oil and gas, agriculture, construction, solar and nuclear.
“To date, the portfolio of F45 standards has been developed to be intentionally general, so that they can be easily applied to specific applications,” says 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 Building on Existing Standards
The Robotics Applications Subcommittee will develop new standards that include specifications, guidance, and test methods, using existing standards. According to ASTM, these standards will address the needs of specific applications of robotics, automation, and autonomous systems.
“There are multiple working groups being formed for each application area, led by subject matter experts (SMEs) who will develop standards within their subcommittees as well as advise other subcommittees as SMEs,” Norton said.
The subcommittee plans to initially focus on solar, construction and agricultural applications. All interested parties are invited to participate in F45.07.
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ASTM Adds Automation Subcommittee
The Robotics Applications subcommittee will join other subcommittees under ASTM F45, including:
“Robots and automation continue to expand into new industries and sectors,” said Aaron Prather, ASTM International’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems program director. “We’ve found that some of these industries need additional standards, guidance, and best practices in addition to existing robotics standards to be successful.”
“This new subcommittee under F45 will allow the industry to develop additional layers of subject matter experts to work with robotics and automation experts to accelerate robotics and automation deployments,” he said. “This is truly a win-win for the industry and the companies that want to help deploy robotics within the industry.”
