UL Options workforce on the South Korea Robotic Laboratory. | Credit score: UL Options
UL Options, a world chief in utilized security science, in the present day 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 all these robots. UL Options stated the lab was established to ship testing and certification providers to assist producers pinpoint rising hazards, notably round human-robot interactions.
The brand new laboratory will deal with testing for compliance with UL 3300, the Normal for Security for Service, Communication, Data, Training and Leisure Robots. This UL Normal is essential for demonstrating that robots can function safely alongside individuals in public and industrial environments and addresses key security issues, together with:
- Mobility
- Fireplace and shock hazards
- Exterior manipulation and interplay with weak individuals
For instance, the usual requires robots to have pace 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 lodges, function companions within the residence and even help consumers in grocery shops,” stated 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 individuals and property.”
UL Options stated that developments in robotics have given rise to a brand new technology of machines able to performing various duties in settings past conventional industrial flooring, together with these now being utilized in lodges and eating places, healthcare, retail, home and private help and supply providers. 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. In keeping with 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 offered. Europe adopted with 33,918 items, and the Americas with 8,927 items offered.
The IFR stated 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 higher office security. Industries akin to logistics and hospitality are more and more deploying robots to deal with repetitive, hazardous or data-intensive duties, liberating human employees to deal with extra strategic and inventive challenges.
Study concerning the Korean robotics ecosystem at RoboBusiness
At RoboBusiness, which takes place Oct. 15-16 in Santa Clara, Calif., attendees can have a novel 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 situated in South Korea.
The KAIST startups span purposes from aerial drones and AI-powered safety to industrial automation and logistics. This devoted house highlights Korea’s rising affect in robotics and gives an opportunity for attendees to construct worldwide partnerships and discover cutting-edge applied sciences.
RoboBusiness is the premier occasion for builders and suppliers of business robots. The occasion is produced by WTWH Media, which additionally produces The Robotic Report, Automated Warehouse, and the Robotics Summit & Expo.
This yr’s convention may even characteristic greater than 60 audio system, a startup workshop, the annual Pitchfire competitors, and quite a few networking alternatives. RoboBusiness will embody a observe on surgical robotics. Over 100 exhibitors on the present flooring will showcase their newest enabling applied sciences, merchandise, and providers to assist resolve your robotics improvement challenges.
