Robot Safety Update: FAQs with Carole Franklin, Director of Robotic Standards Development

Carole Franklin, A3 Director of Robotic Standards Development, shares her insights on the most frequently asked questions about robot safety standards.

Does compliance with R15.06 automatically satisfy ISO 10218, and will the same apply to R15.08 and ISO 3691‑4?

The relationship differs between the two sets of standards. ISO 10218‑1 and 2 were first drafted by ISO Technical Committee 299 (Robotics) and later adopted in the United States as R15.06, which consolidates both parts into a single document.

ISO 3691‑4, on the other hand, originates from ISO Technical Committee 110 (Industrial Trucks) and focuses on “driverless industrial trucks” (AGVs). It is built on the assumption that guidepaths are essential for safety.

R15.08 was developed independently in the U.S. with the premise that many industrial mobile robots can navigate autonomously without guidepaths. It also recognizes that most of the machines it covers are not true “industrial trucks.” Consequently, ISO 3691‑4 and R15.08‑1 are not equivalent in the way that ISO 10218‑1/2 and R15.06 are.

There is an emerging dialogue between TC 110 and TC 299 that could eventually bring convergence, but the discussion is still in its infancy.

How does ANSI/RIA R15.08‑1‑2020 compare to ISO/TS 15066:2016?

These standards serve different purposes. ISO/TS 15066:2016 sets safety requirements for collaborative industrial robot systems—essentially fixed manipulators that can share workspaces with humans. R15.08‑1‑2020, meanwhile, covers industrial mobile robots, including mobile manipulators and robots without attached arms.

While ISO/TS 15066 builds on the assumptions of ISO 10218, R15.08‑1‑2020 is a stand‑alone standard and does not serve as a supplement to ISO 10218 or ISO 15066.

Both standards represent a paradigm shift toward safer human–robot interaction: ISO/TS 15066 introduces collaborative workspaces, and R15.08‑1‑2020 opens the door to mobile robots that move freely throughout facilities.

What about collaboration between robots from different manufacturers?

This issue falls under interoperability rather than safety per se, so it is outside the scope of R15.08‑1. Modern industrial mobile robots typically include sensors and on‑board logic for obstacle and collision avoidance, which mitigates the risk of harm from non‑interoperable units. Interoperability challenges are more economic than safety‑related, though initiatives are underway to address them.

Is R15.08 based on a harmonized standard like R15.06/ISO 10218?

Currently, R15.08‑1 is a U.S. national standard (with participation from Canada). The plan is to submit it to ISO Technical Committee 299 to develop a future ISO standard, which would then become the harmonized baseline, similar to the path that led to R15.06.

Would an autonomous forklift be classified as a Type C AMR?

Autonomous forklifts are excluded from R15.08‑1. If an autonomous forklift were covered, it would be classified as a Type C IMR only if it also carried an industrial robot arm. Without such an attachment, it would fall under Type B (autonomous navigation + other capabilities like lifting).

Specialized safety considerations for forklifts are addressed by the B56.5 standard in the U.S., which the R15.08 committee prefers to reference rather than duplicate.

What is the difference between “automated” and “autonomous”?

“Automated” refers to a machine following a pre‑programmed sequence without making real‑time decisions based on environmental input. “Autonomous” implies the machine can make decisions on its own, adapting to changing conditions.

R15.08‑1 defines:

• Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) – follows a predefined guidepath indicated by markers or external commands.
• Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) – navigates using obstacle avoidance and trajectory planning without a guidepath.

To learn more, watch our 2021 Robot Safety Update webinar.

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