Evolution of Safety Requirements in Industrial Robotics: Comparative Analysis of ISO 10218-1/2 (2011 vs. 2025) and Integration of ISO/TS 15066

TL;DR

This paper compares the evolution of safety standards for industrial and collaborative robots from 2011 to 2025, highlighting significant updates in safety, cybersecurity, and integration of new technical specifications for modern robotic systems.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the changes in ISO safety standards, emphasizing the integration of cybersecurity and collaborative robot classifications in the 2025 revision.

Findings

Significant expansion of safety and cybersecurity requirements

Introduction of new classifications for robots and collaborative applications

Normative integration of ISO/TS 15066 for comprehensive safety framework

Abstract

Industrial robotics has established itself as an integral component of large-scale manufacturing enterprises. Simultaneously, collaborative robotics is gaining prominence, introducing novel paradigms of human-machine interaction. These advancements have necessitated a comprehensive revision of safety standards, specifically incorporating requirements for cybersecurity and protection against unauthorized access in networked robotic systems. This article presents a comparative analysis of the ISO 10218:2011 and ISO 10218:2025 standards, examining the evolution of their structure, terminology, technical requirements, and annexes. The analysis reveals significant expansions in functional safety and cybersecurity, the introduction of new classifications for robots and collaborative applications, and the normative integration of the technical specification ISO/TS 15066. Consequently, the new edition synthesizes mechanical, functional, and digital safety requirements, establishing a comprehensive framework for the design and operation of modern robotic systems.