The R15.08 series of standards builds on the earlier ANSI/ Industrial Truck Standards Development Foundation (ITSDF) B56.5 safety standard for automated guided industrial vehicles (AGVs). The newer standard recognizes three classes of AMRs based on the inclusion of specific functions and features. This article briefly compares AMRs and AGVs and ANSI/ITSDF B56.5 and International Standards Organization (ISO) 3691-4 versus ANSI/A3 R15.08. It then reviews the risk assessment strategies outlined in ANSI/International Standards Organization (ISO) 12100 and ANSI B11.0, how they relate to AMRs, and how they are integrated into R15.08-2. Next, it reviews the three classes of AMRs defined in R15.08-2 before closing with a presentation of practical considerations for AMR integration, including how to implement mapping and commissioning, how to manage fleets of AMRs, and how to navigate new opportunities for virtual commissioning using simulation and digital twins using examples from Omron Automation and Siemens. AGVs can travel only along a predetermined and marked path. They have no independent navigation capabilities. They stop if they arrive at an obstacle and wait for it to be removed before proceeding along the fixed path. AMRs include independent
Figure 1: AMRs (left) navigate around obstacles while AGVs (right) stop when they arrive at an obstacle. (Image source: Omron)
navigation systems and can change paths and move around obstacles (Figure 1). Because of these differences, AGVs are better suited for relatively stable and unchanging environments, while AMRs support more flexible and scalable deployments like those needed in Industry 4.0 operations.
subsequently applied to AMRs without modification. The newer ISO 3691-4 standard covers AGVs and has sections dedicated to AMRs. ANSI/ITSDF B56.5 is a Safety Standard for Guided Industrial Vehicles, unmanned guided industrial vehicles, and the automated functions of manned industrial vehicles; it does not cover AMRs. The newer ANSI/ RIA R15.08 is a safety standard for the use of AMRs in industrial environments. It’s based on and expanded from the R15.06
Standard evolution
Some AMR standards have evolved from previously developed standards for AGVs and stationary robots. For example, EN 1525:1997 was developed for AGVs and was
standard for safely using stationary robotic arms.
we get technical
21
Powered by FlippingBook