Reliability, Maintenance, & Safety of Robots

Reliability, Maintenance, & Safety are closely related issues that greatly influence the effectiveness of robot applications. Attaining highly reliable, easily maintained, & safe applications of robotics can be difficult. Robots are complex computer systems that sense information from their environment, autonomously make decisions, & manipulate the environment with effectors. The complexity of robotics applications increases the chance that malfunctions & errors will occur & can make it difficult to detect & correct them before they result in system failures or accidents. The most easily analyzed failures & errors can be directly mapped to particular elements of the robotics system. More complex error modes involve an interaction between system elements, & error modes may also be interrelated, leading to difficult tradeoffs. For example, performing maintenance tasks may increase reliability but at the same time may expose operators to additional hazards.

Solutions to reliability, maintenance, & safety problems can be found at each stage of the robotics system’s life cycle. Implementing solutions in the design & development stages increases the chance of completely eliminating problems & can help prevent design defects. Design solutions include the provision of redundancy, fault detection & error correction algorithms, & many different types of safety guarding. Solutions applicable in the production phase are drown from the field of quality assurance & focus on preventing manufacturing defects. Such solutions include establishment of specifications & tolerances, use of high-reliability components, on-line inspection & control procedures, testing & component burn-in, & employee training & motivation programs. Solutions applicable in thr use stage include maintenance & many robot safeguarding approaches. ...Learn more?