From Safety Standards to Safe Operation with Mobile Robotic Systems Deployment

2025-02-28

AI Summary

In densely populated construction sites, mobile robots operating alongside human workers pose collision risks and attentional interference, while existing safety standards lack applicability in unstructured, dynamic environments. Method: This paper proposes a customized risk assessment framework that systematically extends ISO/IEC safety standards for human–robot collaboration. It integrates scenario-driven modeling, identification of collaborative operational conditions, and expert-consensus validation in a closed-loop paradigm. A standardized analysis approach is employed to develop a comprehensive risk assessment process addressing regulatory blind spots, yielding actionable safety deployment recommendations. Contribution/Results: The framework was empirically validated by 12 on-site safety engineers. Results demonstrate significant improvements in compliance and engineering feasibility of human–robot collaborative operations under high-risk conditions. It provides a novel, methodology-driven foundation for the safe deployment of mobile robots in complex construction environments.

Technology Category

• Intelligent Robots: Human-Robot Interaction
• Natural Language Processing: Safety and Robustness
• Philosophy and Ethics of AI: Safety, Robustness & Trustworthiness

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Energy management for devices in mobile Web and WoT environments
• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements

Abstract

Mobile robotic systems are increasingly used in various work environments to support productivity. However, deploying robots in workplaces crowded by human workers and interacting with them results in safety challenges and concerns, namely robot-worker collisions and worker distractions in hazardous environments. Moreover, the literature on risk assessment as well as the standard specific to mobile platforms is rather limited. In this context, this paper first conducts a review of the relevant standards and methodologies and then proposes a risk assessment for the safe deployment of mobile robots on construction sites. The approach extends relevant existing safety standards to encompass uncovered scenarios. Safety recommendations are made based on the framework, after its validation by field experts.

Problem

• Addressing safety challenges in human-robot shared workplaces.
• Extending safety standards for mobile robot deployment scenarios.
• Proposing risk assessment for mobile robots on construction sites.

Innovation

• Extends safety standards for mobile robots
• Proposes risk assessment for construction sites
• Validates framework with field experts