System and method for operating an automated machine, automated machine, and computer-program product

A method for operating an automated machine, wherein the automated machine comprises:

• a plurality of interacting technical devices, each technical device being implemented to perform an associated action, wherein each technical device has associated technical-device description data (DDi) including parameters characterizing the respective technical device;
• and
• at least one safety-sensor device implemented to detect an observable state of a space in and/or around the automated machine and implemented to detect a safety issue in said space, a malfunction of the automated machine and/or the safety-sensor device, wherein each safety-sensor device has associated safety-sensor device description data (DSDi) characterizing the respective safety-sensor device;
• wherein the method comprises:
• retrieving, from a database storing a plurality of machine safety rules (SRj) in terms of relationships between safety-sensor devices and technical devices, in particular requirements between safety-sensor device description data (DSDi) and technical-device description data (DDi), the safety-sensor device description data (DSDi) and the technical-device description data (DDi) respectively associated to the safety-sensor devices and the technical devices comprised in the automated machine;
• retrieving, from the database, safety rules (SRj) corresponding to the retrieved safety-sensor device description data (DSDi) and the technical-device description data (DDi);
• determining as to whether the retrieved safety-sensor device description data (DSDi) and the technical-device description data (DDi) comply with the retrieved safety rules (SRj);
• and
• generating at least one of a message, a warning, an instruction, or a report based on the determination.

A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions causing a computing system including one or more processing devices, in response to executing the computer-readable instructions, to:

• retrieve, from a database storing a plurality of machine safety rules (SRj) in terms of relationships between at least one safety-sensor device and at least one technical device, in particular requirements between safety-sensor device description data (DSDi) and technical-device description data (DDi), the safety-sensor device description data (DSDi) and the technical-device description data (DDi) respectively associated to safety-sensor devices and technical devices comprised in an automated machine;
• retrieve, from the database, safety rules (SRj) corresponding to the retrieved safety-sensor device description data (DSDi) and the technical-device description data (DDi);
• determine as to whether the retrieved safety-sensor device description data (DSDi) and the technical-device description data (DDi) comply with the retrieved safety rules (SRj);
• and
• generate at least one of a message, a warning, an instruction, or a report based on the determination;
• wherein the automated machine comprises:
• a plurality of interacting technical devices, each technical device being implemented to perform an associated action, wherein each technical device has associated technical-device description data (DDi) including parameters characterizing the respective technical device;
• and
• at least one safety-sensor device implemented to detect an observable state of a space in and/or around the automated machine and implemented to detect a safety issue in said space, a malfunction of the automated machine and/or the safety-sensor device, wherein each safety-sensor device has associated safety-sensor device description data (DSDi) characterizing the respective safety-sensor device.