This roundtable aims to foster a critical discussion on safely implementing human-robot collaboration, specifically addressing how to apply the latest ISO standards to achieve this. We will explore common misconceptions that lead to unsafe applications and collectively identify implementation challenges. Our goal is to understand how current standards either support or hinder the wider adoption of collaborative applications.
This session is designed for manufacturers, integrators, and end-users with experience or a keen interest in implementing collaborative robot applications.
We will begin with a guided presentation followed by an interactive open discussion:
- Presentation & Q&A (60 minutes)
- Topic 1: Overview of Key Industry Standards and Recent Changes: We will review the latest technical revisions to ISO 10218-1/2, particularly the crucial shift from "collaborative robots" to "collaborative tasks and applications." Understanding these changes is vital for correct implementation.
- Topic 2: Critical Safety Considerations and Common Misconceptions: We will address the dangerous misconception that 'collaborative robots' are inherently safe and require minimal or no safeguarding. We will highlight how this leads to inadequate risk reduction measures and puts workers at risk, emphasizing important safety considerations for both end-users and integrators.
- 30 minutes: Open Discussion
- Question 1: Current Challenges: What specific challenges do integrators and users currently encounter when implementing safe collaborative applications?
- Question 2: Evolving Standards: What changes or additions are needed in industry standards to further support the safe and widespread implementation of collaborative applications?
Our ultimate aim is to enhance understanding and encourage greater participation in robot industry safety standards. By the end of this session, we intend to:
- Develop a set of high-level questions that end-users can effectively ask robot integrators when implementing collaborative applications in their facilities.
- Provide a practical tool to help ensure that appropriate risk reduction measures are consistently implemented, thereby reducing technical barriers to the adoption of collaborative applications.