Software is increasingly being used to ensure that robot installations operate safely. As Fanuc UK's technical manager Darren Whittall explains, this software can have spin-off benefits including cutting hardware costs and saving space. Ensuring worker safety should be the prime consideration in all robot installations, especially where humans and robots may need to share the same workspace. Robot safety transcends the requirements of specific industry sectors or applications. In addition to regulatory requirements, there is a moral obligation to ensure that the workforce is protected properly. Robot-related accidents can have substantial financial and reputational implications too. Unlike more predictable automated operations, robots can produce powerful and rapid movements throughout a large operating space, and the path of a robot arm can be difficult for humans to predict accurately.
展开▼
