"The ISO Robot Safety Standard of 2006 provided some basic guidelines on how these robots could perform, but these robots do not claim compliance with that standard," Fryman noted. "And that's probably because the standard -- at least the technical data behind the standard -- isn't complete. The ISO community is still working on that."
A Cage-Free Future
Despite these concerns, Fryman does see a bright future for the technology.
"These robots have very interesting capabilities and I can understand 100% why someone would want to employ them," he said.
In fact, he reported that all of the "big" robot companies -- including Fanuc (IW 1000/687), Kuka and ABB (IW 1000/121) -- are developing this type of tool, but they haven't yet released them to the market "because they understand that without the appropriate guidance of industry consensus, they would be swimming up hill."
"I think in a few years we're going to see these devices out there; I think we're going to see some good uses for them," he said. "I'm very encouraged by the development, but at the moment these guys are out front from the group."
Citing the same concerns, Rethink Robotics' Rosenberg echoes this point.
"[These robots] are of great interest to industry and have a lot of potential in the near future, but are not yet a major force impacting manufacturers today," he said. "We believe that roll out of inherently safe robots that will work next to humans will take years."
In the meantime, these smaller companies that are planting their flags in the industry ahead of the pack have a vital role to play.
"Until these robots get out there and we get some experience with them, we don't have the experience with which to give the considered guidance that we can with six axis industrial robots," Fryman explained. "We've got a lot of experience there with what is okay and what is not okay' but not so much with this new breed of robot."
So these companies are put in a tough place -- by earning the first mover advantage in the U.S. market, they are also expanding the documented practical experience with that machines that will help define the future ISO standards, thereby cementing their place in the industry. However, that comes at the cost of bearing 100% of the risk.
As Fryman put it, "That's a double-edged sword."
