Robotic tech vest (RTV) is a special wearable equipment protecting workers near
industrial robot
An industrial robot is a robot system used for manufacturing. Industrial robots are automated, programmable and capable of movement on three or more axes.
Typical applications of robots include robot welding, welding, painting, assembly, Circu ...
s. It is similar to a
high-visibility jacket but for robots. Robots can sense a vest from a distance and avoid moving into it, thus protecting the wearer from collisions.
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History
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA; ) is a regulatory agency of the United States Department of Labor that originally had federal visitorial powers to inspect and examine workplaces. The United States Congress established ...
(OSHA) has studied the topic of workers' safety in the areas of operating robots and concluded: "Studies indicate that many robot accidents occur during non-routine operating conditions, such as programming, maintenance, testing, setup, or adjustment. During many of these operations the worker may temporarily be within the robot's working envelope where unintended operations could result in injuries."[
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Operation in warehouse
In 2018, Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technology company
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek myth ...
introduced robotic tech vests in 25 warehouses to protect workers from robot collisions.[ As according to Amazon in 2019, RTV has been introduced to more than 25 sites and more than 1 million activations were completed.][ The workers are safe with RTVs when they enter the area to fix a robotic system or retrieve fallen items.][
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Difference to collaborative robots
The technology of robotic tech vest stands in contrast to the collaborative robot
A cobot, or collaborative robot, also known as a companion robot, is a robot intended for direct human-robot interaction within a shared space, or where humans and robots are in close proximity. Cobot applications contrast with traditional industr ...
s approach.[ In case of collaborative robots, the RTVs are not needed.
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See also
* Amazon Robotics
Amazon Robotics LLC, formerly Kiva Systems, is a Massachusetts-based company that manufactures mobile robotic fulfillment systems. It is a subsidiary of Amazon.com. Its automated storage and retrieval systems have been used in the past by compan ...
* Automatic track warning system
Automatic track warning system (ATWS, ) is a technical device used during track construction for occupational safety. It warns the construction site workers of an approaching train. In Germany, it usually consists of a series of signal lights and ...
* Kenji Urada
* Robert Williams (robot fatality)
Robert Nicholas Williams (May 2, 1953 – January 25, 1979) was an American factory worker who was the first known human to be killed by a robot. While working at the Ford Motor Company's Michigan Casting Center, Williams was struck and killed b ...
* Workplace robotics safety
Workplace robotics safety is an aspect of occupational safety and health when robots are used in the workplace. This includes traditional industrial robots as well as emerging technologies such as drone aircraft and wearable robotic exoskeletons. ...
References
Wearable devices
Warehouses
Industrial robotics
Amazon (company)
External links
Amazon’s New Tech for Fulfillment Center Safety
{{Robotics