UL Options staff on the South Korea Robotic Laboratory. | Credit score: UL Options
UL Options, a world chief in utilized security science, at this time introduced the opening of its new testing laboratory for industrial and repair robots. Situated in Seoul, South Korea, that is the corporate’s first lab for testing some of these robots. UL Options mentioned the lab was established to ship testing and certification companies to assist producers pinpoint rising hazards, notably round human-robot interactions.
The brand new laboratory will give attention to testing for compliance with UL 3300, the Customary for Security for Service, Communication, Data, Schooling and Leisure Robots. This UL Customary is essential for demonstrating that robots can function safely alongside folks in public and industrial environments and addresses key security issues, together with:
- Mobility
- Hearth and shock hazards
- Exterior manipulation and interplay with susceptible individuals
For instance, the usual requires robots to have velocity limits and object detection capabilities primarily based on their measurement and mandates audible and visible indicators to sign their presence and path of motion to these round them.
“The robotics business is coming into a brand new period of progress, one the place machines ship room service in inns, function companions within the residence and even help consumers in grocery shops,” mentioned Yun Chung, regional managing director at UL Options in South Korea. “As robotics adoption accelerates, our new robotic laboratory will play a crucial function in figuring out and addressing urgent security issues, enabling companies in Korea and worldwide to harness the advantages whereas defending folks and property.”
UL Options mentioned that developments in robotics have given rise to a brand new technology of machines able to performing numerous duties in settings past conventional industrial flooring, together with these now being utilized in inns and eating places, healthcare, retail, home and private help and supply companies. As this pattern grows, figuring out and addressing new security issues, particularly these associated to human-robot interactions, has grow to be very important.
The opening of the brand new UL Options robotic laboratory comes as the worldwide service robotics market expands. Based on the Worldwide Federation of Robotics (IFR), gross sales of service robots elevated by 30% worldwide in 2023. Almost 80% of the robots got here from the Asia-Pacific area, with 162,284 items bought. Europe adopted with 33,918 items, and the Americas with 8,927 items bought.
The IFR mentioned this surge is pushed by a number of elements, together with a rising scarcity of expert labor, the necessity for enhanced operational effectivity and a push for larger office security. Industries similar to logistics and hospitality are more and more deploying robots to deal with repetitive, hazardous or data-intensive duties, releasing human employees to give attention to extra strategic and artistic challenges.
Study in regards to the Korean robotics ecosystem at RoboBusiness
At RoboBusiness, which takes place Oct. 15-16 in Santa Clara, Calif., attendees may have a singular alternative to attach with the Korean robotics business. The present flooring will embody a KAIST Pavilion (Sales space #817) that highlights six startups from South Korea. The Korea Superior Institute of Science & Know-how (KAIST) is a number one robotics college that’s positioned in South Korea.
The KAIST startups span functions from aerial drones and AI-powered safety to industrial automation and logistics. This devoted area highlights Korea’s rising affect in robotics and offers an opportunity for attendees to construct worldwide partnerships and discover cutting-edge applied sciences.
RoboBusiness is the premier occasion for builders and suppliers of economic robots. The occasion is produced by WTWH Media, which additionally produces The Robotic Report, Automated Warehouse, and the Robotics Summit & Expo.
This 12 months’s convention can even characteristic greater than 60 audio system, a startup workshop, the annual Pitchfire competitors, and quite a few networking alternatives. RoboBusiness will embody a monitor on surgical robotics. Over 100 exhibitors on the present flooring will showcase their newest enabling applied sciences, merchandise, and companies to assist remedy your robotics growth challenges.
