Datasheet

6. Safety
During the first year review meeting held in Amsterdam in December 2012, questions on Human-
Robot safety interaction were raised. It was important to review the mechanics, electronics and the
low-level software to be able to navigate safely in crowded places.
For that a Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) has been performed and actions have already
been introduced.
Subchapter 6.1. shows a preliminary FMEA study and subchapter 6.2. will present some of the
actions that have been introduced to prevent or deal with cases of emergency.
This section will be updated with relevant information as the robot is being continuously evolving to its
final state and the partners are developing their work.
6.1. Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA)
Component: Robot
Sub Component Failure Local Effect End Effect
Detection
Method
Corrective
Action
Shell Kids try to climb
over the robot
Damage to the
shell and kid
injuries
Robot shell
needs to be
repaired
Visual Redesign of shell to
reduce the possibility of
kids climbing over
Shell Obstacle
Detection
Robot hits an
obstacles
Robot shell
needs to be
repaired
Visual Add sensors or increase
system performance
Bumper Robot-Human
collision
The robot does
not stop in
contact with a
human
Human injuries Collision Sensor Introduction of collision
sensors around the robot
Bumper Robot-Human
collision
The robot stops
but it is not
instantaneous
Human injuries Collision Sensor Introduction of soft
materials in the
construction of the
bumper and increase the
stop acceleration
Laser Range
Finders
Human Eyes
exposures
----- Eye injuries Visual Use of eye safe Laser
Range Finders. Class I
Laser
Laser pointer Human Eyes
exposures
----- Eye injuries Visual Use of Class II Laser
pointers and never point
to the people.
Projector Human Eyes
exposures
------ Eye injuries Visual Use a low power projector
and never use it to project
towards people.
Platform Is lost and can
put people in
danger
Robot is trying to
find its way
without any
localization
sensor
Robot shell
needs to be
repaired, human
injuries, damage
to the workspace
Visual Visible Emergency stop
button to cut motor power
and to allow moving the
robot to other places by
hand
Platform Should be placed
in another
location
Robot is moving
and there is no
possibility to
move it to
another location
Different
problems
Visual Introduction of a Wireless
joystick to take control of
the platform
Platform Needs to be
immediately
Robot is moving
out of control
Robot shell
needs to be
Visual Introduction of a wireless
emergency stop button
FROG – FP7 STREP nr. 288235
Deliverable: D1.4 – Platform User and Developer Manual 38