NSW Government: Safe cobot workplaces

Challenge

A new generation of autonomous robots designed to work alongside humans is rising in Australian workplaces. These collaborative robots, cobots, are giving manufacturers the agility to automate multiple processes and redeploy employees to more important tasks.

As technology advances and the adoption of cobots increase, there is a need to build a greater understanding of the health and safety implications of the new work environment.

While these cobots have many in-built safety features, including fixed and adjustable force limits, sensors and automatic stop capabilities, the WHS risks resulting from the interaction between workers and collaborative robots are not well understood or documented.

Solution

In partnership with the NSW Department of Work Health and Safety, the UTS Tech Lab team will develop guidelines, methods and principles to design safe cobots and cobot workplaces.

The outcomes from this project will support the safe implementation of collaborative robots into businesses and help shape future industry practices and official standards and regulations.