Cooperative Robots: Safety and Productivity

Thanks to the sBot Speed safety system from SICK robots slow down when approached, and start working again on their own when the person has left the working range: it provides more safety, flexibility and productivity

In cooperative robot applications, the sBot Speed safety system from SICK guarantees safety, flexibility and productivity. It is a complete solution ready for integration consisting of an S300 mini safety laser scanner, and a FlexiSoft safety controller. In addition to pre-configured and tested automation and safety functions, it offers a complete wiring diagram which enables quick and trouble-free system integration into robot controls.
The sBot Speed-UR system variant is optimally aligned to various robot models from Universal Robots (UR), and other variants with other robot manufacturers are available.

Safe access to the hazardous area

Cooperative robot applications, in which man and machine share the same working space at different times support mounting processes, for example. In addition, they enable flexible adjustment to changing work or ambient conditions. Safety systems must ensure safe access to the hazardous area of the robot at all times. At the same time, they should support the process efficiency and productivity of the human-machine interaction, for example with adaptive perception capabilities, which make it possible to automatically adjust the operating conditions of the robot to the position of the person in the surroundings. This prevents the risk of accidents occurring and simultaneously improves productivity by reducing downtimes and optimizing work processes.

The working range is monitored by a laser scanner

An S300 mini safety laser scanner monitors the working range of the robot. It uses two field sets dependent on the robot speed, each consisting of a warning and a protective field. If a person enters the warning field of field set 1 during an on-going process, the robot safety reduces its speed. Since the robot is now moving more slowly and therefore would have a shorter run-down time in the event of an emergency stop, the safety system activates field set 2 with a smaller protective field. If this field is entered, the robot makes a safety stop. If the person leaves the working range, the robot automatically starts moving again, at first with safely-reduced speed and monitored by field set 2 so it can then resume the original work speed with protection by field set 1. The safety monitored reduction in speed means more productivity and availability with optimized human-robot interaction compared to a complete stop and production standstill.

Ideal for models from Universal Robots

The sBot Speed-UR system variant is therefore specially aligned for use in the UR3, UR5 and UR10 robot models in essential respects. For example, this concerns the UR-specific wiring diagram or the specification and connection of additional safety components, which are required to fulfill relevant safety standards. In addition, the wiring diagram, the safety logistics program, the UR-related parameter settings and the Sistema file are contained in the detailed documentation. The targeted alignment to UR robots also concerns the selected “Active operation” and “Programming” operating modes. l