Motors and motion control system design for safety considerations in robotics applications

Contrary to industrial robots which use passive safety systems like fencing, interlocks, and physical guards to protect humans from moving parts, such safeguards will not exist for human-centered robots.

The robotics industry is evolving at a rapid pace. Morgan Stanley forecasts there will be 8 million robots in the US by 2040. Safety is often relegated to software or AI consideration. However, most of the development to ensure success needs to come from battery powered DC brushless motors, brakes, and mechanical transmission.

The presentation will review and discuss design considerations for motors and mechanical drives in future robots’ safety and regulations. It will highlight system design considerations to include in future robots for safe integration of electro-mechanical drive systems, specifically in the following areas:

1. What are the types of robots and why safety is important.

2. Motors and motion control design considerations for safety such as size, low speed, inertia, back drivability, weight, emergency braking, and positional errors. The difference between physical (hardware) and semantic (software/AI –behavior) intelligence for safety.

3. Future gearmotors product development opportunities and challenges

Who should attend?

Design engineers, market managers, and product development leaders in the servo motor, electric brakes, and mechanical drive systems manufacturing industries that wish to actively participate in the upcoming emerging robotics technologies.