ABB Robotics is seeking to establish standardized methods for measuring energy consumption in industrial robots, addressing a long-standing gap in automation efficiency benchmarking. The company argues that inconsistent measurement practices make it difficult for manufacturers to compare systems, optimize performance, and quantify sustainability gains.
ABB’s proposal focuses on defining repeatable test cycles that reflect real production conditions, including robot motion, payload, speed, and idle states. By measuring energy use across standardized duty cycles rather than isolated components, the approach aims to provide more accurate, application-relevant data. ABB is working with industry partners and standards bodies to align methodologies that could be adopted broadly across robot suppliers.
The effort reflects rising pressure on manufacturers to reduce energy consumption and document environmental impact. As factories prioritize energy efficiency alongside productivity, standardized metrics could become critical infrastructure, enabling more informed automation investments and supporting regulatory and sustainability reporting requirements.