{"id":4691,"date":"2022-04-21T14:25:37","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T18:25:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robodk.com\/blog\/?p=4691"},"modified":"2022-04-21T14:25:43","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T18:25:43","slug":"collaborative-robot-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robodk.com\/blog\/collaborative-robot-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Need to Know About Collaborative Robot Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You want to ensure that your robot application is safe\u2026 so would a cobot be the best option? Collaborative robot safety is not as straightforward as you might think.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you are working with any industrial machinery, safety is a prime concern. Although the number of injury cases is generally low<\/a>, this can only be because we continue to prioritize safety so highly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Collaborative robots (aka cobots) are a specific type of robot that has become more popular in the past 10-15 years. Cobots hold the promise that they are inherently safe\u2026 but is this true?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few things you need to know about collaborative robot safety before you can safely start to use cobots in your business\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do Collaborative Robots Need a Safety Fence?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The much-advertised benefit of collaborative robots is that they don’t require a safety fence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robot safety fences can be a nuisance. They are large, bulky, awkward to install, and steal a lot of valuable real estate from your facility floor. As a result, it would be great if you could dispense with safety fences completely and just use the robot without one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, can cobots really operate without a safety fence?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The basic answer is\u2026 yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cobots can operate without a safety fence, but only in specific situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not true that you can dispense with fences completely with cobots. There are plenty of applications that require extra safety measures no matter what type of robot you are using. Even if you don’t need a fence, you might need extra safety sensors<\/a> to ensure your robot meets the required safety standards for your application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Important Collaborative Robot Safety Standards<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What safety standards do you need to become familiar with when you are using collaborative robots?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is one main international standard for cobots. Then, there will be country-specific guidelines and recommendations depending on where you are in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ISO\/TS 15066 \u2014 Collaborative Robots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The main standard that you need to know about collaborative robotics is ISO\/TS 15066.<\/a> This standard was first released in 2016 by the International Standards Organization (ISO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It specifies the safety requirements for collaborative industrial robot systems and guidance on the safe operation of cobots. A robot that has been manufactured in accordance with this standard will include specific features to aid safety, such as integrated safety sensing, speed limits, and force limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Country-specific Robotic Safety Guidelines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As well as cobot safety standards, your robotic applications will also need to adhere to your country’s specific guidelines for working with robotic equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These guidelines are unlikely to address collaborative robots directly (although they might) but they will give you actionable advice on how to ensure your robot application is safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, in the United States of America, there are two sets of guidelines that are relevant<\/p>\n\n\n\n