Standards Development

Scope

This standard specifies the compatibility requirements for end-effectors on articulated robots that can handle payloads of up to 30kg.

The standard covers the electrical connections and related characteristics, and their designation and marking.

This standard does not cover:

1. mechanical requirements of the end-effector interface besides those related to the electrical connectors (the mechanical interface of end-effectors is covered by ISO 9409-1 and -2).

2. communication protocols

3. safety related requirements.

Purpose

Market Need Standardization of the mechanical interface of the end-effector (ISO 9409 series) has been widely accepted in the market since its first publication in 1988. These documents have made it possible to create tooling that can be mounted with robots, supporting a free market of mechanically interchangeable products. The same is not true for the electrical interface of the end-effector. Since there is currently not an accepted consensus on the electrical interface specifications, industry is limited to only using end-effectors, which are compatible with specific robots, or more expensive custom-built solutions. This limits innovation and creates unnecessary burdens and costs.

Initially, computers had no unified electrical interface for connecting peripherals. That changed dramatically with the introduction of USB connections, which to this day simplify our daily living. Turning our attention to robotics and the connections and electrical interfaces at the end of arm we find a similar situation: there is little agreement on which connectors, signals, and fundamental communication protocols to use. The market would greatly benefit from standardization for the electrical interfaces as computers have benefitted from standardized connections.

Addressed Problem

The lack of an electrical interface standard for the robot end-effector represents a large normative gap. The purpose of this NWIP is to fill this gap though standardization of the electrical interface of the endeffector.

This standard will help:

1) generic compatible tooling. A generic robot tool can be installed on different types and brands of robots without any modifications to its electrical signals or connectors. The same is true the other way around for a generic robot which can be used with different types and brands of robotic tools.

2) increasing the electrical robustness and lower the inconvenience and cost due to external cabling along the robot arm.

Value to the end-users

End-users and integrators will benefit from a standardized end-effector interface, which will reduce integration time and increase the availability of products from different vendors and suppliers. As such, this standard will help reduce burdens and costs, increase competition in the market and support innovation. 

Market Need

Standardization of the mechanical interface of the end-effector (ISO 9409 series) has been widely accepted in the market since its first publication in 1988. These documents have made it possible to create tooling that can be mounted with robots, supporting a free market of mechanically interchangeable products. The same is not true for the electrical interface of the end-effector. Since there is currently not an accepted consensus on the electrical interface specifications, industry is limited to only using end-effectors, which are compatible with specific robots, or more expensive custom-built solutions. This limits innovation and creates unnecessary burdens and costs.

Initially, computers had no unified electrical interface for connecting peripherals. That changed dramatically with the introduction of USB connections, which to this day simplify our daily living. Turning our attention to robotics and the connections and electrical interfaces at the end of arm we find a similar situation: there is little agreement on which connectors, signals, and fundamental communication protocols to use. The market would greatly benefit from standardization for the electrical interfaces as computers have benefitted from standardized connections.

Addressed Problem

The lack of an electrical interface standard for the robot end-effector represents a large normative gap. The purpose of this NWIP is to fill this gap though standardization of the electrical interface of the endeffector.

This standard will help:

1) generic compatible tooling. A generic robot tool can be installed on different types and brands of robots without any modifications to its electrical signals or connectors. The same is true the other way around for a generic robot which can be used with different types and brands of robotic tools.

2) increasing the electrical robustness and lower the inconvenience and cost due to external cabling along the robot arm.

Value to the end-users

End-users and integrators will benefit from a standardized end-effector interface, which will reduce integration time and increase the availability of products from different vendors and suppliers. As such, this standard will help reduce burdens and costs, increase competition in the market and support innovation.