Robots have captured the human imagination for decades, if not centuries. Today, they are far more than the subject of science fiction novels and movies. Industrial robots have become a common sight in state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, and their capabilities are starting to evolve into other areas of our daily lives.
Personal care robots and collaborative robot systems are only two examples of robotic systems that are seeing significant growth right now. But what are the implications for safety requirements, including occupational safety and ethical risks? Here is a detailed assessment.
What are Robot Safety Standards?
Before we consider the implications of robot safety in industrial settings and other surroundings, we need to clarify what robot safety standards are. According to automate.org, robot safety standards are a set of guidelines for robot specifications that allow for safe operations. Anyone involved in manufacturing, selling, or using robots has to follow these guidelines to build a safe system.
In most cases, several industry bodies define safety standards. Some of those standards may be binding internationally, whereas others only apply to certain countries or specific industries. Internationally binding robot safety standards may be harder to agree on. However, they are essential for the development and growth of the industry.
In the European Union, the so-called machinery directive harmonizes health- and safety-related requirements for robots between all member states. The machinery directive also removes trade restrictions, allowing the industry to grow.
Why Are Robot Safety Standards Important?
International robot safety standards are a necessity for the growth of the robotics market. Effective international standards unify the guidelines of individual countries and industries, making it easier to streamline manufacturing and usage. In short, international standards allow the robotics industry as a whole to grow and stabilize the market for these devices.
Sales across borders become easier to conduct, and manufacturing becomes more cost-effective if there is less need for customization. Whilst the need for robot safety standards is obvious, agreeing on those standards is not that simple. The industry is developing fast, creating the risk of today’s standards becoming obsolete tomorrow.
In addition, as the industry is developing, considering industrial robot safety is no longer enough. Safety requirements also include ethical components. They relate to the impact on persons that robots may have, and the standards also have to consider the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) technology on the workplace.
Staying with industrial robotics for the moment, this field is changing, too. Where early robots and humans used to work mostly separately just a few years ago, we are now witnessing growing human-machine interaction. No doubt this will influence the development of robot safety standards.
In the United States, several organizations are actively involved in the creation of standards that will be applicable not only nationwide but also outside of our borders. Two of the main bodies involved in this process are the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Robot Safety Standards - Cobots