What are the key challenges in certifying autonomous picking systems? Achieving safety certification while maintaining performance and productivity is a significant hurdle. This technology addresses these challenges by providing a robust safety layer that simplifies the certification process without requiring a complete overhaul of the autonomy stack. This approach ensures that companies can enhance safety efficiently and achieve certification more easily.

How does the technology streamline the safety case? By offering a separate safety layer, it reduces the complexity of the planning and control aspects of the autonomy stack. This simplification makes it easier to achieve certification by providing a focused safety upgrade for existing systems. Companies benefit from a more efficient path to certification, saving time and resources.

What role do Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) play in certification? Built on mathematically proven techniques like CBFs, the technology reliably handles safety constraints, including collision avoidance, geofencing, and system stability. These functions ensure that systems operate within safe boundaries, offering robust evidence for compliance with safety standards and simplifying the certification process.

How does real-time monitoring enhance safety? The system intercepts and modulates commands in real time, ensuring only safe actions reach the robot’s actuators. This proactive approach prevents unsafe actions before they occur, addressing both functional safety and safety of the intended functionality (SOTIF). By enabling nuanced responses such as slowing down or changing direction, the system avoids unnecessary stops while maintaining safety.

How do dynamic safety guardrails improve operations? The technology includes dynamic safety guardrails that allow systems to operate in complex and dynamic environments, typical of picking applications. These guardrails provide reliable collision avoidance, geofencing, and system stability, ensuring safe operation even in the face of unforeseen events.

Can this technology reduce costs and development time? Yes, it significantly reduces development time by avoiding the need for handling corner cases and overly conservative measures. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of certification and accelerates time to market for autonomous picking systems, making the process more accessible and cost-effective for companies.

Why is the sensor-agnostic approach important? The technology’s compatibility with a variety of sensor technologies eliminates the need for redundant sensors, reducing costs and simplifying integration. This flexibility allows developers to choose the most suitable sensors for their application without compromising safety.

What makes this technology a breakthrough for autonomous picking systems? By delivering a dynamic, proactive, and mathematically rigorous approach to safety, it overcomes common certification barriers such as complex development processes and overly conservative measures. The technology enables the creation and deployment of safer, more efficient picking systems, ensuring they meet certification requirements while maintaining high performance and productivity.

Safety Certification for Autonomous Picking Systems