Safety of human-robot interaction through tactile sensors and peripersonal space representations

TL;DR

This paper explores how robots with tactile sensors and peripersonal space representations can enhance safety during close physical human-robot interactions by integrating safety zones and sensory feedback.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of using artificial sensitive skin and peripersonal space models to improve safety in human-robot collaboration.

Findings

Robots with tactile sensors can better detect human contact.

Peripersonal space representations can enhance safety monitoring.

The approach supports existing safety guidelines.

Abstract

Human-robot collaboration including close physical human-robot interaction (pHRI) is a current trend in industry and also science. The safety guidelines prescribe two modes of safety: (i) power and force limitation and (ii) speed and separation monitoring. We examine the potential of robots equipped with artificial sensitive skin and a protective safety zone around it (peripersonal space) to safe pHRI.