Towards a core ontology for robotics and automation

•We propose a core ontology for the robotics and automation field.•The ontology aims to specify the main notions across robotics subdomains.•In this ontology, a robot is a device composed of many mechanical parts.•A robot is also an agent that interface with the environment.•A robot is also a social entity, which can compose systems with their environment.

In this paper, we present the current results of the newly formed IEEE-RAS Working Group, named Ontologies for Robotics and Automation. In particular, we introduce a core ontology that encompasses a set of terms commonly used in Robotics and Automation along with the methodology we have adopted. Our work uses ISO/FDIS 8373 standard developed by the ISO/TC184/SC2 Working Group as a reference. This standard defines, in natural language, some generic terms which are common in Robotics and Automation such as robot, robotic device, etc. Furthermore, we discuss the ontology development process employed along with the problems and decisions taken.