The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has updated its key robot safety standards, ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2, to reflect technological advancements in collaborative robotics.
These updates are part of the ongoing work of the ISO working group tasked with ensuring that safety standards remain relevant in a rapidly evolving sector.
ISO 10218-1 and ISO 10218-2 are widely recognised as foundational documents for robot and robotic system safety.
The revisions account for the growing use of collaborative robots (cobots) and the increasing integration of advanced sensors, artificial intelligence and machine learning into robotic systems.
The updated standards aim to provide a more robust framework for managing risks associated with human-robot interactions in industrial and collaborative environments.
The British Standards Institute (BSI), which represents the UK in the ISO, has completed its review of the changes.
The review process included input from robotics manufacturers, integrators, and end-users to ensure the updated standards are both comprehensive and practical.
BSI’s analysis highlighted the importance of addressing new challenges posed by cobot deployment, such as dynamic safety zones and adaptive motion control.
The updated standards are expected to be officially released later this year.
Once published, they will guide manufacturers, system integrators, and end-users in implementing safe and effective robotic systems across various industries.
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