Functional safety system for robots

A robotic safety method, comprising:

• receiving sensor data from one or more sensors;
• using the sensor data to detect, in or near a workspace in which a robot with which the robotic safety system is associated is located, an actor or instrumentality that poses a potential safety risk to one or both of the robot and the detected actor or instrumentality;
• and
• adapting a safety posture of the robotic safety system with respect to the robot to an extent needed to ensure the continued safety of both the robot and the detected actor or instrumentality;
• wherein the adapted safety posture takes into account one or more of a task of the robot and a position and velocity of the actor or instrumentality relative to the robot.

A computer program product to provide robotic safety, the computer program product being embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:

• receiving sensor data from one or more sensors;
• using the sensor data to detect, in or near a workspace in which a robot with which the robotic safety system is associated is located, an actor or instrumentality that poses a potential safety risk to one or both of the robot and the detected actor or instrumentality;
• and
• adapting a safety posture of the robotic safety system with respect to the robot to an extent needed to ensure the continued safety of both the robot and the detected actor or instrumentality;
• wherein the adapted safety posture takes into account one or more of a task of the robot and a position and velocity of the actor or instrumentality relative to the robot.