ASTM International

Standard Test Method for Evaluating Emergency Response Robot Capabilities: Mobility: Maneuvering Tasks: Sustained Speed
 N E2829

Annotation

Purpose:

The purpose of this test method, as a part of a suite of mobility test methods, is to quantitatively evaluate a teleoperated ground robot's (see Terminology E2521) sustained maneuvering speed on paved surfaces.

Robots shall possess a certain set of mobility capabilities, including maneuvering, to suit critical operations such as emergency responses. The environments often pose constraints to robotic mobility to various degrees. Being able to maneuver effectively for extended distances is essential for deployment down-range during emergency responses. This test method specifies apparatuses to standardize this maneuvering task for testing.

Emergency response ground robots shall be able to handle many types of obstacles and terrain complexities. The required mobility capabilities include traversing gaps, hurdles, stairs, slopes, various types of floor surfaces or terrains, and confined passageways. Yet additional mobility requirements include sustained speeds and towing capabilities. Standard test methods are required to evaluate whether candidate robots meet these requirements.

ASTM Task Group E54.08.01 on Robotics specifies a mobility test suite, which consists of a set of test methods for evaluating these mobility capability requirements. This sustained speed test method is a part of the mobility test suite. The apparatuses associated with the test methods challenge specific robot capabilities in repeatable ways to facilitate comparison of different robot models as well as particular configurations of similar robot models.

The test methods quantify elemental mobility capabilities necessary for ground robot intended for emergency response applications. As such, users of this standard can use either the entire suite or a subset based on their particular performance requirements. Users are also allowed to weight particular test methods or particular metrics within a test method differently based on their specific performance requirements. The testing results should collectively represent an emergency response ground robot's overall mobility performance as required. These performance data can be used to guide procurement specifications and acceptance testing for robots intended for emergency response applications.