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We examine the proposition of a stationary assistive robot arm in the kitchen. Based on a preliminary business plan and with the aim of generating engineering requirements, a multi-disciplinary project was established to examine the wider ramifications of such assistive technology in the household, in a Swiss context, in the fields of health and social wellbeing. Additionally the engineering aspects as well as the business aspects were examined. We detail both the individual methodologies used in this study, the results achieved and discuss the results in a wider context.

More than 700 standardized rules for fire testing are used round the world in order to assess the fire safety of materials, products and constructions in different technical fields. This article discusses the reasons for this variety of test methods and evaluation systems and the attempts to create systematic models in this special field of material testing, including new suggestions and developments in ISO and CIB for future approaches.