Safety is paramount in any manufacturing operation—not just for reasons of OSHA compliance, but for productivity and a positive working environment.
In the video above, we look at how safety for industrial robot cells is evolving from mechanical and physical guarding and on/off safety systems, to more dynamic and intelligent solutions.
ABB recently introduced their SafeMove2 safety system to enable closer and more intelligent interaction between humans and robots as well as more intelligently designed cell layouts, as Stefan Drakensjo, head of handling and machining at ABB Robotics, explained.
“The SafeMove2 system allows for collaborative interactions even with large 800kg robots,” Drakensjo said. “This is important because of safety and because today, the industry wants smart, compact factories with flexible cell layouts. SafeMode2 allows you to compact cell layouts to design and engineer cells that don’t occupy so many square feet.”
Using SafeMove2 and associated scanner systems, cells can be programmed to adjust a robot’s speed of motion based on the proximity of human workers.
As seen in the video above, scanners installed throughout a cell can see where humans are nearby. As a human approaches the robot, the scanner sends data to the robot control, which then slows the robot down to preprogrammed speeds. The robot will come to a complete stop when a human reaches a certain threshold.
As the human moves away from the robot, the scanner alerts it to pick up its pace, resuming its path of motion. This method eliminates the need for the human to manually reset the robot’s process.
“When you do design and engineering, you want to plan as much as possible before you reach the factory floor to do installation,” said Drakensjo. “With the simulation software that comes with SafeMove2, you’re able to design safety zones and where the robot can move, eliminating mechanical stops.”
For more information, watch the video above and visit the ABB website.