Intelligent technical systems and the working environment

functional safety - sensors - human-system interaction

This section in the Accident Prevention: Digitalisation - Technologies department is concerned with aspects of functional safety in machine safeguarding, use of a range of sensor technologies for detecting the presence of persons, and human-system interaction. The section comprises the following fields:

Picture of a tablet with the machine operation application opened

Safe machine operation by tablet and smartphone
Source: IFA

Functional Safety

The main activities in the field of Functional Safety are:

  • Testing/certification and research on electronic safety components and control systems (e.g. safety programmable logic controllers, safety systems on robots), safety bus systems and logic units for safety functions
  • Development of test specifications and participation on the relevant standards committees, e.g. for electrical/electronic/programmable electronic systems, including safety-related data transmission
  • Consulting on and evaluation of collaborative robot workstations
    (e.g. measurement of collision forces and pressures, evaluation of safety concepts)
  • Testing/certification, consulting and research on controls for machines and systems, e.g. mobile controls (wireless remote controls), operation by means of touch displays

Links for further information:


digital picture of a Person working on a rolling mil

Example of safeguarding: transponders on rolling mills
Source: IFA

Safeguards and assistance systems

The main activities in the field of safeguards and assistance systems are:

Links for further information:

Relationship between the type of electro-sensitive protective equipment and the Safety Integrity Level (SIL)/Performance Level (PL) (Practical solutions: Machine safety)


Picture of a hand with red and yellow lines over it, as the hand is being detected by AI

Use of AI for hand detection
Source: IFA

Artificial intelligence in functional safety

The main activities in the field of artificial intelligence in functional safety are:

  • Research and consulting on the use of systems employing artificial intelligence in the area of functional safety (e.g. image analysis systems for detecting hazardous situations) and on the topic of trustworthy artificial intelligence
  • Development of test methods and regulations for the use of AI in machinery, for example as an assistance function
  • Participation on the relevant standards committees in the sphere of AI and functional safety, in particular ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC 42 JWG 4, Functional safety and AI systems

Picture of a storage hall in a VR risk assessment

Use of VR for design review and risk assessment
Source: IFA

Human-system interaction

The main activities in the field of human-system interaction are:

  • Research into and consulting on human factors and ergonomics in safety technology, and on their usability
  • Development and completion of studies in AR/VR simulations (e.g. SUTAVE laboratory) and eye tracking systems; completion of research projects
  • Projects and consulting on system ergonomics and human machine interface (HMI) design of machinery (including mobile machinery), systems, remote control stations for teleoperation and in control centres, particularly on human-machine interfaces, work equipment and assistance systems
  • Development of a website providing an overview of information for the ISSA Section Machine and System Safety with a compilation of requirements and recommendations concerning work system design for machine safety
  • Participation on relevant committees for regulation and standardization with reference to human factors and ergonomics

Publications

Innovative assistance system to prevent accidents on sliding table In: The 11th International Conference on Safety of Industrial Automated Systems (SIAS). Conference Proceedings (2024)

New transponder-based safeguards for rolling mills on plastics and rubber machines (Focus on IFA´s work Nr. 0443), 2024

Use of the BGHW warehouse simulator to raise awareness of fall hazards (Focus on IFA´s work Nr. 0448), 2024

Contact

Thomas Seifen

Accident Prevention: Digitalisation - Technologies

Tel: +49 30 13001-3538