Apparatus and methods to reduce impact of robot collision and/or avoid robot collision

A method comprising:

• determining, via a processor, a parameter value based on a signal from a sensor, wherein the sensor, the processor, and a relay are disposed in a housing that is coupled to an automated robot, the relay electrically coupled to a safety circuit of the automated robot;
• comparing, via the processor, the parameter value to a threshold value;
• and
• in response to the parameter value satisfying the threshold value, triggering, via the processor, the relay to stop the automated robot.

A non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause processor circuitry to at least:

• determine a parameter value based on a signal from a sensor, wherein the sensor, the processor circuitry, and a relay are disposed in a housing that is coupled to an automated robot, the relay electrically coupled to an emergency stop circuit of the automated robot;
• compare the parameter value to a threshold value;
• and
• in response to the parameter value satisfying the threshold value, trigger the relay to stop the automated robot.