Mantis Robotics Sets New Standard with World’s First Fenceless High-Speed Robot Safety Certification

Mantis Robotics Achieves Groundbreaking Safety Certification

Mantis Robotics has made waves in the realm of industrial automation by announcing that its flagship robot, the MR-1, has secured the distinction of being the world's first fenceless high-speed industrial robot to receive safety certification. This milestone aligns with both ISO 10218 and ISO 13849 standards, marking a significant advancement in ensuring robot safety in shared human environments.

Safety vs. Speed: A New Era

Previously, industries had to navigate the dilemma of balancing speed and safety within the automation realm. However, the MR-1, powered by proprietary Physical AI, eliminates this compromise. With this revolutionary technology, robots can operate at high speeds in conjunction with human workers without the need for traditional physical safety barriers. The MR-1 not only embodies enhanced productivity but also achieves an unprecedented level of safety.

Gerry Vannuffelen, CEO of Mantis Robotics, expressed the significance of the safety certification. He noted, "This breakthrough represents an entirely new category of robotics that can operate alongside people safely without sacrificing productivity. The main barrier to scaling AI robots is not intelligence but safety." The MR-1 employs advanced proximity detection capabilities that allow it to autonomously adjust its behaviors and speed in response to its surroundings, facilitating a safer work environment.

The Future of Collaborative Robotics

The introduction of the safety-certified MR-1 signals the dawn of a new era in collaborative robotics. As AI-powered robots advance from isolated industrial settings into shared workspaces like warehouses and factories, ensuring safety becomes paramount. Mantis Robotics has developed a foundational framework to support this transition, thereby unlocking one of the largest market opportunities in robotics.

Unlike traditional robots, the MR-1 features an extensive 47 embedded safety functions, far surpassing the typical 17 found in most commonly used robots and cobots. Each of these features adheres to a high reliability level, certified at Performance Level d (PL=d). The MR-1 integrates a range-based object detection system called STAR, which relentlessly monitors its operational environment and adjusts its actions accordingly for safe interaction with human counterparts.

Performance Capabilities and Safety Standards

In terms of performance, the Mantis MR-1 boasts significant specifications—a 5 kg payload capacity, maximum speeds of up to 10 m/s, and a reach of 900 mm. It is available for purchase, complete with safety features out of the box, a robot controller, and the Mantis Studio code-free software, which includes state-of-the-art 3D digital twin modeling for real-world applications.

The MR-1's compliance with safety standards is marked by ISO 10218-1, which dictates the safety requirements for industrial robots, alongside ISO 13849-1, concerning the safety-related parts of control systems across all types of machinery. These certifications substantiate the MR-1's adherence to both EU machinery directives and functional safety requirements, a testament to its design and operational safety.

The certification was facilitated by SGS Fimko Oy, a renowned company with over a century of experience in testing, inspection, and certification services.

Conclusion: A Vision for Industrial Automation

Mantis Robotics, which was founded in 2020 by seasoned veterans of the robotics industry, is steadfast in its mission to make industrial automation more accessible through innovative technologies such as Physical AI. With the introduction of the MR-1, Mantis Robotics not only heralds a new chapter in robot design and capability but also fosters safer workplaces where humans and robots can thrive together.

To learn more or schedule a demonstration, visit Mantis Robotics.