Safeguarding Systems, Securing Success
Unleashing Functional Safety Excellence
Industrial Functional Safety
Industry 4.0 (fourth industrial revolution) refers to the transformation of the manufacturing sector into a fully digitized and connected environment which involves integrating new technologies like Internet of Things, computing spanning from edge to cloud in multiple layers, and the seamless integration of AI-driven analytics into every facet of their operations.These smart factories are equipped with advanced sensors, embedded software and collaborative robots.
The digitization process involves integrating communications from operation technology (OT) to information technology (IT), including cloud storage that collects and analyzes data which allow for new levels of visibility and actionable insights leading to better decision making.
This shift towards autonomous machine decision-making and operation, coupled with enhanced human-machine interaction in potentially hazardous factory environments, emphasizes the growing significance of functional safety adherence in industries. IEC 61508 is the basic standard that is applicable to all industries.
IEC 61508
Industrial
- IEC 61496 - 1 - Electro - sensitive protective equipment/light barrier
- IEC 61131 - 6 - Programmable controllers
- ISO 13849 - Safety control systems
- IEC 61800 - 5 - 2 - Electrical power drive systems
- ISO 13850 - Emergency stop
- IEC 62061 - Machinery
- ISO 10218 - Robots
Transportation
- EN 5012x - Railway applications
- ISO 26262 - Road vehicles
- ISO 25119 - Tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry
- ISO 15998 - Earth - moving machinery
Energy
- IEC 62109 - Energy delivery
- IEC 61513 - Nuclear power
- IEC 50156 - Furnaces
- IEC 61511 - Industrial processes
Medical
- IEC 60601 - Medical devices
- IEC 62304 - Medical device software
Household
- IEC 60335 - Household appliances
- IEC 60730 - Motor Control
Building
- EN 81 \ EN 115 - Lifts
Key Safety & Reliability Standards for Industrial Robots:
MulticoreWare possesses substantial expertise in writing or adapting software for safety controller architectures with redundancy and diagnostic capabilities, tailoring the solutions to match any specific application with safety requirements.
An industrial robot’s safety-related system comprises sensors, algorithm software and actuators, creating a control subsystem. Additionally, there is a logic subsystem, typically comprising microcontrollers (MCUs) and/or processors. The design and architecture of these MCUs play a crucial role in the overall safety architecture of the system.
The choice of processors with ingrained functional safety features leads to a substantial reduction in the cost and complexity associated with developing a functionally safe system. The standards that play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and reliability of industrial robots within their operational environments are:
- The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 62061 : This standard provides guidance on how to ensure functional safety in safety-related electrical, electronic, and programmable electronic control systems used in machinery. The systems could operate individually or as a distributed systems cluster working in a synchronized manner. Organizations can enhance the safety performance of their machinery and mitigate potential risks, contributing to safer and more reliable industrial processes.
- ISO 13849, Safety of Control Systems : This standard focuses on safety-related parts of control systems, including software, for various machinery, including industrial robots. It offers a framework for assessing and specifying safety performance levels.
- ISO 10218-1&2, Robots and System Integration : This specifies requirements and provides guidelines for the Safety of industrial robots and robot systems, encompassing aspects such as design, integration, operation, and maintenance. The reference standard for Collaborative Application is ISO/TS 15066:2016 – Robots and Robotic Devices - Collaborative Robots (cobots).
Multicoreware can work on the software development across systems with safety considerations. Our collaborative approach with customers, safety experts, and industry stakeholders enriches our understanding and deployment of safety challenges.
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