- April 28, 2009
- ABB
April 28, 2009 – ABB Robotics unveiled SafeMove, a software and electronics based safety controller integrated in the IRC5 robot controller. SafeMove provides safety rated supervision of robot motion, enabling leaner robot cell solutions and more collaborative applications where robots and operators can work more closely together. SafeMove offers a host of safety functions and reduces the need for traditional safety equipment such as light curtains, safety relays, mechanical stops, mechanical position switches, and protective barriers, allowing organizations to save money on installation and maintenance. SafeMove also enables more compact cells by restricting robot motion to precisely what is needed for a specific application, instead of relying on more inflexible mechanical stops. Since robots move at very high speeds and often carry loads weighing hundreds of pounds, humans and robots are normally kept apart by specially-designed safety fences, roll doors, or turntables. By letting SafeMove restrict robot motion this separation can be relaxed, allowing the operator to work more closely with the robot, combining human creativity and flexibility with the strength and precision of robots. This will make the operation of industrial robots leaner, more economic and far more flexible. An important function of SafeMove is the ability to confine robot motion to three dimensional safe zones adaptable to any need and industrial application. Zones can be switched on and off in the work cycle to ensure that a robot working at full speed is at a safe distance from the operator. A zone can also be inverted so that the robot is not allowed to enter, safeguarding expensive equipment. "Now that the safety standards in North America recognize and allow this type of technology, the robot becomes part of the safety solution as opposed to the object of the guarding challenge,” said Robin Schmidt, chief engineer, ABB Robotics, North America. “This will allow the robot and worker to interact in a way that significantly improves productivity and reliability."In “safe standstill” mode robot movement is inhibited completely, yet all drives remain powered. The purpose of this operating mode is to allow the worker to approach the robot safely to load a work piece into the gripper or carry out maintenance on the tooling without the need to switch the motors on and off. SafeMove not only saves cycle time when operation is resumed, it also reduces wear on the brakes and contactors needed to shut the unit down. In “safe speed” mode, the robot is allowed to move at a speed that is slow enough to pose no threat to the worker, thus allowing the worker to enter the work cell once a safe speed is achieved. Safe speed can also be used simply to reduce safety distances and thus save floor space. Orientation supervision ensures that an emitting process such as laser cutting is pointing in a safe direction, avoiding harm to humans and equipment."In applications where the tooling presents a significant hazard the motion limiting capability of the SafeMove technology provides the safety rated protection that no other previous solution could offer,” said Schmidt. “SafeMove provides the tools for applications that previous hardware solutions could not offer.” About ABB, Inc.ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in approximately 100 countries and employs about 120,000 people.About ABB RoboticsABB Robotics is a leading supplier of industrial robots – also providing robot software, peripheral equipment, modular manufacturing cells and service for tasks such as welding, handling, assembly, painting and finishing, picking, packing, palletizing and machine tending. Key markets include automotive, plastics, metal fabrication, foundry, electronics, pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries. A strong solutions focus helps manufacturers improve productivity, product quality and worker safety. ABB has installed more than 160,000 robots worldwide.