NSW Government: Safe cobot workplaces

This project, in partnership with the NSW Centre for Work Health and Safety, will develop guidelines, methods and principles to design safe cobots and 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.

Duration
1 year

Academic team
Dr Matthias Guertler
Dr Nathalie Sick
Dr Gavin Paul
Dr Marc Carmichael
Centre for Inclusive Design
Karios Now

Lab
Industry 4.0 Lab
Robotics Lab
Cobot Welding Cell

Engagement model
R&D as a service

Funding
NSW Centre for Work Health and Safety

Future applications
Manufacturing industry
Cobot design and use
Industrial standards
Government regulations

Area of expertise
Industry 4.0
Robotics and automation