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1994
Conference Paper
Titel
Practical tools and aids to integrate safety and ergonomical aspects into the layout planning of industrial robot systems
Abstract
In flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) where industrial robots are in use working conditions and the human element of the system (operators, programmers, maintenance staff) are often largely ignored. Many users, however, find it very difficult to work out a suitable solution for their problem. Although working groups were formed at a very early stage to discuss and formulate standards in various countries (and later participated in formulating standards at an international level such as ISO 10218: Safety of Industrial Robots, and ISO/DIS 11161: Safety of Integrated Manufacturing Systems), it is obvious that safety at industrial robot stations cannot be achieved by regulations alone. Safety can only be guaranteed if from the outset it is incorporated into the overall system design and layout as a planning criterion and if the designer is provided with practical planning aids for health and safety aspects. The purpose of this paper is to introduce various tools and aids which have been developed at the Fraunhofer-lnstitute of Manufacturing Engineering and Automation to provide effective support for systems designers at various stages in the planning process (hazard analysis, specification of requirements, solution finding, evaluation and integration into the overall system).