#USA #Las Vegas #Predictive Safety #Algorized #KUKA

Algorized and KUKA: A New Era of Robot Safety

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, a groundbreaking partnership between Algorized and KUKA was unveiled, showcasing a revolutionary approach to robot safety through the introduction of the Predictive Safety Engine. This innovation signals a shift from traditional safety mechanisms that have dominated the automation industry for decades, where emergency stops and stationary robots were standard. With their new technology, speed and safety can coexist, paving the way for enhanced efficiency in collaborative human-robot environments.

The Evolution of Robot Intelligence

Automated systems have long been associated with the dilemma of speed versus safety. The more robust the safety measures, the slower the processes. Algorized and KUKA aim to break this trade-off, introducing a system that utilizes real-time Edge AI to enhance the robots' perceptive capabilities. By integrating a foundational model specifically engineered for human interaction into KUKA’s robotic arms, the robots can now perceive physiological indicators, comprehend intentions, and adjust their actions dynamically in response to human movements, even in challenging environments.

The Technology Behind the Innovation

At the heart of this advancement is the IWR6843AOP mmWave radar sensor from Texas Instruments. This sensor, which combines SIL2-certified safety with high-resolution sensing, is capable of detecting human presence and movement accurately, including conditions where conventional methods such as cameras might fail. The system excels in recognizing vital signs like breathing and heartbeat, ensuring that motionless operators are no longer overlooked.

By harnessing the power of physics rather than pixels, the Algorized engine can digitize environments effectively, enabling five key capabilities:
1. Entity Classification: Distinguishing between humans, robots, and inanimate objects to optimize safety and productivity.
2. Micro-Motion Vital Sign Perception: Monitoring vital signs to enhance machine responsiveness to human operators.
3. Non-Visual Intent Recognition: Understanding user intent based on motion trajectories and posture, allowing robots to adjust accordingly.
4. Occlusion Immunity: Effectively perceiving through obstacles like smoke and darkness, overcoming common limitations of visual systems.
5. Sovereign Edge Processing: Operating with zero latency and complete independence from cloud computing, ensuring that intelligence resides locally on the machine.

The Glass Box Experience

At CES, attendees experienced a unique demonstration termed the