Human-robot interaction: a conceptual framework for safety/risk analysis

From smart factories to service applications, human-robot interaction is crucial to the development of collaborative settings in which humans and robots operate side by side. Since robots in shared spaces must take into consideration variables such as human motion unpredictability and potential workplace risks, effective risk management is essential. When building these systems, striking a balance between factors such as safety, ergonomics, and operational flexibility becomes crucial. Misalignment between human purpose and robot behaviors might result in accidents or increased injury risks, especially in environments with high physical demands. One of the key challenges in human-robot interaction is handling uncertainty. The main aim of the current study is to introduce a conceptual framework for safety/risk analysis, including a hierarchy tree of the risk criteria and risks. Both human- and robot-related factors are considered. The multi-criteria decision-making procedure developed for autonomous vehicle systems is adapted for risk analysis in human-robot interaction. As a final result, the prioritized risk criteria and risks are identified. These results lay the foundation for reducing risks in the future.