Safety Zone

Inidcating safety distance | Atomic

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Preamble

Type

Atomic Pattern; Indicating Safety Distance

Ranking

** (initially validated through empirical user studies)

Version

Author

Selina Layer (selina.layer@iao.fraunhofer.de), Kathrin Pollmann (kathrin.pollmann@iao.fraunhofer.de), Christine Busch, Carla Bernadette Bubeck

Design Challenge

Interaction Situation

Human and robot are moving in the same area. The robot indicates the safety distance that should be maintained between robot and passersby to ensure that its can move around undisturbed and to prevent potentially dangerous collisions with passers-by.

Communication
Goal

“This is my safety zone. I’m keeping my distance from you.”

Design Solution

Solution

Use light to project a circular area around the robot (at a distance of 75–120 cm, color: orange-yellow, alternatively: blue). This circle indicates the safety distance that humans should ideally maintain from the robot.

Rationale

Machines that can be a potential hazard for humans usually use visual markers to show the space they need to operate, or to keep humans in safe distance. Cars or trains rely on supporting infrastructure using streets, tracks and visual borders on the floor, demonstrating their space. Other machines or industrial robots in production often use barrier tape, or sometimes floor projections or laser grids to keep humans on a safe distance.

References and
Context