Standardization News

ASTM International’s robotics, automation, and autonomous systems committee (F45) has approved the formation of a new subcommittee on applications (F45.07). The subcommittee is a response to the expanding use of robotics and automation throughout many industry sectors. The goal of the new subcommittee is to provide a place where a variety of industries can come to develop robotics standards that are specific to their sectors.

According to committee chair Adam Norton, the formation of this new subcommittee will enable ASTM F45 members to develop industry-specific standards for the many relevant application areas where robotics, automation, and autonomous systems are being applied. This includes but is not limited to oil and gas, agriculture, construction, solar, and nuclear.

“The portfolio of F45 standards to date have been intentionally developed to be general so they can be easily adapted to particular applications,” says Norton, associate director NERVE Center, University of Massachusetts Lowell. “This sets the stage for this new subcommittee to leverage the existing set of standards so that new specifications, guides, practices, and their own application-specific test methods can be developed. Several task groups for each application area are in the process of being formed, led by subject matter experts (SME) who will not only develop standards within the subcommittee, but also advise as SMEs to other subcommittees.”

The subcommittee will develop a set of standards that will include specifications, guides, and test methods. These standards will address the needs of various application areas where robotics, automation, and autonomous systems are used, including but not limited to oil and gas, agriculture, and construction.

Task groups will be established and led by subject matter experts for each application area to develop standards within the new subcommittee, as well as to advise other F45 subcommittees on applications standards they could develop for specific needs.

The subcommittee plans to launch with an initial focus on solar, construction, and agricultural applications. All interested parties are invited to join F45.07.

“Robotics and automation continue to expand into new industries and sectors,” says Aaron Prather, director, robotics and autonomous systems programs, 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 robotic and automation experts to develop that extra layer to speed up robot and automation deployments. It is truly a win-win for both those industries and the companies that want to help deploy robots within those industries.”