ASTM to develop standard test methods for robot grasp strength

ASTM International’s robotics, automation and autonomous systems committee is developing a proposed standard on grasp strength of robot end effectors.

ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, is an international standards organisation that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems and services.

The proposed standard (WK83863) is a test method for evaluating grasp strength of these end effectors, which will reveal capabilities of robotic hands including limits of payload size and resistance to pull/push forces during operation. The test method will apply to two major grasp types: pinch and wrap.

The pinch grasp allows for measuring performance associated with precision grasping, while the wrap grasp allows for measuring performance associated with power grasping.

With a rapidly growing number of end effectors with diverse designs on the market, there is a need to assess their individual competencies and characteristics under a unified framework.

According to ASTM International member Joe Falco, the assessment method, and several others to come, will help the robotics community in many ways.

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

Image: OnRobot 2FG7 gripper. Source: OnRobot.