Functional-Safety ICs and Reference Design Help Robots Meet IEC 61508 (Download)

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Intelligent robotic systems are bringing great gains in productivity to the factory floor. However, they also present collision hazards that could potentially injure humans or damage themselves, other equipment, or the product being manufactured.

Consequently, the need for functional safety is on the rise, and design engineers must increasingly deliver projects that comply with relevant standards like the International Electrotechnical Commission’s IEC 61508 functional-safety standard. Even if a project doesn’t require adherence to a particular standard, designing in accordance with functional-safety requirements can be a key differentiator that provides a competitive advantage.