RIA Standards Committee Releases New Technical Report on Testing Power & Force in Collaborative Robots

ANN ARBOR, MI – The RIA R15.06 Standards Committee has finalized Technical Report (TR) R15.806-2018 to address the test methods and metrics for measuring pressure and force associated with quasi-static and transient contact events of collaborative applications.

A collaborative robot, or cobot, is a type of robot intended to physically interact with humans in a shared workspace. Collaborative robots are experiencing rapid market growth. According to Markets and Markets research, the collaborative robots market is expected to reach a value of $4.28 billion by 2023, growing at an astounding 56.94% compound annual growth rate (CAGR)¹.

As new automation technologies emerge, new safety standards are critical.

“One of the benefits of combining human and automated processes is increased flexibility and diversity of applications; but this can also increase safety hazards if a collaborative robot system is not designed and tested accurately. This new standard outlines the optimal testing methods for power and force in power-and-force-limited (PFL) cobot systems,” says Carole Franklin, RIA Director of Standards Development.

The test methods and metrics are brand new to the automation industry. They determine conditions of the test measurements, measurement devices, and accurate testing methods. This document is supplemental to the R15.06-2012 and enhances the R15.606-2016. RIA now offers a Collaborative Robot Safety Bundle featuring both R15.606-2016 and R15.806-2018 in the web store.

“This is an important milestone in standards development because it shows how to test whether or not the PFL collaborative robot is operating within the pain threshold limit values of R15.606-2016. The pain threshold limit values are different for different parts of the human body that the cobot might contact. Collaborative robots have sensors and safety mechanisms built in, but the variety of applications and flexibility of cobots makes it necessary to run tests to ensure that the limits are set appropriately for the type of contact expected,” says Franklin.

To learn more about the TR R15.806-2018 or to purchase a copy of the standard visit Robotics Online.

About RIA

Founded in 1974, RIA is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to improving the regional, national and global competitiveness of the North American manufacturing and service sectors through promotion and enhancement of robotics and related automation. RIA represents over 550 robot manufacturers, system integrators, component suppliers, end users, consulting firms, research groups, and educational institutions. The association hosts a number of events including the biennial Automate Show & Conference (May 17-21, 202 in Detroit), the International Robot Safety Conference (October 15-17, 2019 in Indianapolis), the Collaborative Robots, Advanced Vision & AI Conference (CRAV.AI; November 12-13, 2019 in San Jose, CA), and the A3 Business Forum (January 13-15, 2020 in Orlando, FL). RIA also provides quarterly robotics statistics and has a content-rich website, Robotics Online. For more details on RIA, visit Robotics Online or call (734)994-6088.

About Association for Advancing Automation (A3)
The Association for Advancing Automation is the global advocate for the benefits of automating. A3 promotes automation technologies and ideas that transform the way business is done. A3 is the umbrella group for Robotic Industries Association (RIA), AIA - Advancing Vision + Imaging, Motion Control & Motor Association (MCMA) and A3 Mexico. RIA, AIA, MCMA and A3 Mexico combined represent over 1,200 automation manufacturers, component suppliers, system integrators, end users, research groups and consulting firms from throughout the world that drive automation forward. For more information, visit: A3, RIA, AIA, MCMA, A3 Mexico.

For More Information:

Bob Doyle
Association for Advancing Automation
(734) 994-6088