Product Usage and Risk Assessment
Product Usage
This is an industrial product designed specifically for purposes of transferring and assembling objects by attaching components to products using tools, and it must be operated in the conditions specified in its specifications.
This product features special safety functions designed for the purpose of collaborating with human operators, and it operates with human operators without specific boundaries. Conduct work with the system only when all applications, including the tool, workpiece, boundary and other equipment, are confirmed to have no harm.
The following uses are considered inappropriate because they exceed the boundaries of the product’s intended purpose. Doosan Robotics will not be held responsible for any damage and malfunctioning of the robot, property losses and injuries to users due to such inappropriate uses.
Use in an environment with potential explosions
Use in application related to medicine and human lives
Use in transporting humans and animals
Use without risk assessment
Use in locations where performance and operation environment specifications are not met
Use in environments with insufficient safety functions
Use of the robot as a step to stand on
Use under conditions beyond the IEC International Standard for Electromagnetic Compatibility in Industrial Environments
Risk Assessment
One of the most important factors for system integrators is risk assessment. Risk assessment is a legal requirement in most countries. In addition, the safety assessment of the robot installation depends on the way the robot integrates into the entire system, so the robot itself cannot be used for risk assessment.
In order to proceed with the risk assessment of the robot, the administrator who configures the entire system must install and operate the robot in accordance with the guidelines of ISO12100 and ISO10218-2. In addition, the administrator can refer to the technical specification ISO/TS 15066.
Risk assessment must consider the overall work process in terms of the overall life cycle of the robot application. Key objectives of risk assessment are as follows:
Robot setting and work teaching for robot operation
Troubleshooting and maintenance
Proper robot installation
Before supplying power to the robot arm, make sure to perform a risk assessment. Setting appropriate safety settings and identifying the need for additional emergency stop buttons and other protective measures are parts of risk assessment.
Identifying appropriate safety settings is a critical aspect of developing a collaborative robot application. For more information, refer to the corresponding chapter of the manual.
Some safety functions are designed specifically for collaborative robot applications. These functions can be set up through safety function settings, and they are optimized for responding to specific risks identified through the risk assessment performed by the integrator.
The safety functions of the collaborative robot can be set up in the safety setting menu, and they offer the following features:
Force and power limitation: Limits the stopping force and pressure of the robot in case of collisions between the robot and a worker
Momentum limitation: Limits the energy and impact load by reducing the speed of the robot when a collision between the robot and a worker occurs
Joint position and TCP limitation: Limits robot movement to prevent moving towards specific body parts of users such as the neck or head
TCP and tool pose limitation: Limits certain areas or characteristics of a tool and workpiece to minimize related risks (i.e., limits the movement of sharp edges of workpieces aimed at users)
Speed limitation: Limits robot movement to stay at low speed in order to secure time for the user to avoid a collision before a collision between the robot and a worker occurs
Applying appropriate safety settings is considered to be the same as fixing the robot to a specific location and connecting it to a safety-related I/O. For example, setting password protection can prevent unauthorized safety setting changes by individuals not approved by the system integrator.
Key items to note when performing risk assessment of the collaborative robot application are as follows:
Severity of individual potential collisions
Probability of individual potential collision occurrence
Probability of individual potential collision avoidance
If the robot is installed on a non-collaborative robot application that cannot sufficiently remove risks using its internal safety functions (e.g., use of dangerous tool), the system integrator must decide to install additional protection devices during risk assessment (e.g., use of protection devices capable of protecting the integrator during installation and programming).