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A Universal Robots collaborative robot arm with a Robotiq gripper. | Source: Robotiq

ASTM International announced that its robotics, automation and autonomous systems committee is developing a standard, WK83863, based on the grasp strength of robot end-effectors. 

The proposed standard is for a test method that evaluates an end-effector’s grasp strength to better determine its capabilities like limits of payload size and resistance to pull and push forces during operation. 

The standard outlines two major types of grasps: pinch and wrap. With a pinch grasp, the standard will measure how well the end-effector performs precision grasping. An end effector’s performance with power grasping is measured with a wrap grasp. 

“These grasp-type end-effector performance standards will be useful to producers of these technologies as methods to characterize their performance, ultimately helping both end-users and integrators to match capabilities to application needs,” Joe Falco, ASTM International member, said. “Additionally, researchers and developers will benefit from a common set of benchmarks for improving end-effector designs.”

This standard will help to outline better the capabilities of different kinds of end-effectors with diverse designs. By outlining a unified framework for these robotic grippers and performance metrics, end-users and developers can have a better understanding of the raw traits of the technology they’re working with.

You will learn more about ASTM’s standards work at the Robotics Summit & Expo (May 10-11 in Boston), the world’s leading event focused on commercial robotics development. The event is produced by The Robot Report. Adam Norton, chairman of ASTM International’s Committee F45 on Robotics, Automation, and Autonomous Systems, will present an overview of the committee’s recent and upcoming activities. Norton will also hold an interactive discussion during the session to gather industry feedback on recommendations for future standards developments to ensure alignment with the community’s needs, both from a developer and user perspective.

Aaron Prather, director of ASTM’s robotics & autonomous systems programs, was recently a guest on The Robot Report Podcast. He discussed the current state of robotic standards at ASTM, specifically with Committee F45, and talked about some of the pitfalls that young robotics companies can trip over when attempting to sell their solutions to a large fortune 500 company like FedEx, for which he served as senior technical advisor for many years. You can listen to that podcast episode below. The interview with Prather starts at the 19:20 mark.