Industry 4.0 / smart FactorIes


requirements for humans and robots to work together safely include:


uniform standards for hardware and software components


Industrial security and aligned communication protocols efficient determination of the environment short reaction times High intelligence of the service robot systems


easy and intuitive operations (such as speech and gesture control)


MobIle roboTS


mobile robots help to automate and optimise logistics processes. as they provide continuous service around the clock and can be flexibly assigned for a variety of applications, their contribution to increased efficiency and productivity is significant. aGVs form a floor-based conveyor network


to process and handle any items without it, but it does represent a possible risk. the force required for gripping and the specific handling of the work piece are crucial safety factors. Iso tr 20218-1 outlines the interface and safety requirements for gripper systems.


InDuSTrIal roboTS


successful certification of industrial robots, robotic systems, and control systems demands compliance to all applicable technical guidelines and standards, and testing should cover the following aspects:


Heavy loads and high speeds unexpected start-up or behaviour


collision with work pieces or the surroundings ejecting work piece items Presence of humans in the critical area


SerVIce roboTS


service robots and personal assistant robots differ profoundly from industrial robots, as this robot category typically performs high-value, individual and often (semi-)autonomous actions. this means it is usually characterised by great flexibility and a high level of autonomy. to perform their tasks - which often includes replacing or supplementing human activity – personal assistant and service robots must utilise learning and re-programming features to determine and analyse their environment.


which follow fixed routes, usually along wires or magnets embedded in the ground, helping to automate and optimise logistics processes. they therefore play a major role in process automation and materials transportation across a range of sectors, including manufacturing, logistics and hospitals. In smart factories and the Industry 4.0 environment, aGVs are particularly critical for sustainably enhancing efficiency in intralogistics. However, their extremely diverse applications pose distinct challenges to manufacturers and system integrators. autonomous mobile robots (amr) are more


sophisticated and packed with sensors and powerful on-board computers that allow them to navigate dynamically using a map. they are smart enough to recognise and react to obstacles to safely perform their function in a busy environment as aGVs and amrs provide continuous service


around the clock and can be flexibly assigned for a variety of applications, their contribution to increased efficiency and productivity is significant. While their application within industry can be varied, aGVs and amrs all have essential subsystems in common:


transport vehicle(s): Powertrain energy accumulator safety controls Positioning devices data-transmission interfaces


charging infrastructure plus further peripheral equipment if necessary


Guidance control system an Industrial mobile robot (Imr) is a


combination of an aGV and amr with an


‘Industrial manipulator’ (robot). market specific requirements that must be taken into consideration include u.s. standard ansI/rIa r15.08 – “safety standard for autonomous mobile robots”, and international standards Iso 10218 parts 1 and 2. ansI/rIa r15.08 divides these vehicles into different categories:


Imr type a – a basic type of autonomous mobile robot (amr) without any attachment


Imr type B - an Imr type a plus an attachment (active or passive, e.g. conveyors, roller tables, lifting devices, fixed totes, etc., excluding manipulators).


Imr type c – a amr or aGV base with a robotic manipulator


In the european economic area (eea) Imrs are


required to comply with the machinery directive, which for the uK market aligns with the supply of machinery (safety) regulations 2008. this requires a task-based risk assessment, for which the guidance in the international standard Iso 12100 – “safety of machinery - General principles for design - risk assessment and risk reduction” can be used, although it does not explicitly mention collaborative applications. today, original equipment manufacturers, as


well as other tier suppliers, are making use of new technologies for collaborative robot applications. the challenge is to guarantee safety and minimise the chance of injury when people and machines work together. consequently, there are many working groups of the standards organisations reviewing various aspects of human-machine interactions, which will inform the development of future standards. However, different standards still apply depending on the application, interfaces and capabilities of the robot. so, while robots offer exciting possibilities, it is


vital that a complete risk assessment is undertaken before deployment, as you would with any machinery in the workplace. this must cover the intended use of the robot, as well as any reasonably foreseeable misuse, with the basis for this risk assessment being en Iso 12100, in order to provide a presumption of conformity with the machinery directive. adding to complexity, key markets such as europe and north america also have established individual sets of robotic safety standards. manufacturers would therefore be advised to seek the support of an accredited international testing and certification body to clarify applicable international requirements, right from the specification phase. safety is a prerequisite for the use of robotics,


as a system failure can have severe consequences for people, equipment and operations. although the landscape of robotic safety requirements is fragmented, a combined application of established standards and industry best-practices will ensure the safety of your robotic solutions.


TÜV SÜD www.tuvsud.com/uk


Factory&HandLInGsoLutIons | octoBer 2021 9


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