The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Robotics & Automation Society (RAS) recently announced the launch of a new study group that will look into the current humanoid landscape, with the goal to develop a roadmap for future standards that various organizations can follow.

The IEEE RAS has given the group a year to identify and produce deliverables, including:

• a current landscape analysis of standards that can or cannot be applied to humanoid robots;
• current gaps in the existing standards framework;
• potential roadblocks in addressing the gaps found; and
• a roadmap for future standards development that both addresses the gaps as well as mitigates potential roadblocks.

“In the past, standards development organizations would wait to develop a standard until after robot had hit the market,” said Aaron Prather, director of robotics and autonomous systems programs at ASTM International, and chair of the humanoid study group. “However, humanoid robots are being developed so quickly for both the academic lab and the factory and warehouse floors, we really don’t have time to wait until the proverbial robot feet hit the floor.”

The study group is open to others across industry, academia, government agencies, and fellow standards development organizations (SDOs), according to IEEE.

Access more information online, via IEEE.