Robot System Reliability and Safety A Modern Approach

As robots are used more and more to perform a variety of tasks in a range of fields, it is imperative to make the robots as reliable and safe as possible. Yet no book currently covers robot reliability and safety within one framework. Robot System Reliability and Safety: A Modern Approach presents up-to-date information on robot reliability, safety, and related areas in a single volume, eliminating the need to consult diverse sources. After introducing historical, mathematical, and introductory aspects, the book presents methods for analyzing robot system reliability and safety. It next focuses on topics related to robot reliability, including classifications of robot failures and their causes and hydraulic and electric robots’ reliability analysis. The book then explains the analysis of robot-related safety and accidents, covers key elements of robot maintenance and robotics applications in maintenance and repair, and addresses human factors and safety considerations in robotics workplaces. The book concludes with chapters on robot testing, costing, and failure data as well as six mathematical models for reliability and safety analysis. Written by a well-known expert in reliability engineering, this book will be useful to system, design, reliability, and safety engineers along with other engineering professionals working in the area of robotics. It can also be used in courses on system engineering, reliability engineering, and safety engineering.

IntroductionBackgroundRobot System Reliability/Safety-Related Facts, Figures, and ExamplesTerms and DefinitionsUseful Sources for Obtaining Information on Reliability and Safety of Robot SystemsScope of the Book Basic Mathematical ConceptsIntroductionArithmetic Mean and Mean DeviationBoolean Algebra LawsProbability Definition and PropertiesProbability Distribution-Related DefinitionsProbability DistributionsLaplace Transform Definition, Common Laplace Transforms, and Final-Value Theorem Laplace TransformSolving First-Order Differential Equations Using Laplace Transforms Reliability and Safety BasicsIntroductionBathtub Hazard Rate CurveGeneral Reliability-Related FormulasReliability ConfigurationsNeed for Safety and the Role of Engineers with Respect to SafetyClassifications of Product Hazards and Common Mechanical InjuriesOrganization Tasks for Product Safety and Safety Management PrinciplesAccident-Causation Theories Methods for Performing Reliability and Safety Analysis of Robot SystemsIntroductionFailure Modes and Effect AnalysisThe Markov MethodFault Tree AnalysisTechnique of Operations ReviewHazard and Operability AnalysisInterface Safety AnalysisProbability Tree Method Robot ReliabilityIntroductionClassifications of Robot Failures and Their Causes and Corrective MeasuresRobot Effectiveness Dictating Factors and Robot Reliability Survey ResultsRobot-Related Reliability MeasuresRobot Reliability Analysis Methods and Models for Performing Robot Reliability StudiesReliability Analysis of Hydraulic and Electric Robots Robot SafetyIntroductionRobot Safety: Problems and HazardsRoles of Robot Manufacturers and Users in Robot SafetySafety Considerations in Robot Design, Installation, Programming, and Operation and Maintenance PhasesRobot-Related Safety Problems Causing Weak Points in Planning, Design, and OperationRobot Safeguard ApproachesCommon Robot Safety Features and Their FunctionsSafety Considerations for Robotized Welding Operations Robot Accidents and AnalysisIntroductionSome Examples of Robot-Related AccidentsRobot Accidents: Causes and SourcesEffects of Robot-Related AccidentsRobot-Related Accidents at Manufacturer and User FacilitiesUseful Recommendations to Prevent Human Injury by RobotsMethods for Performing Robot Accident Analysis Robot Maintenance and Areas of Robotics Applications in Maintenance and RepairIntroductionRobot Maintenance-Related Needs and Maintenance TypesCommonly Used Tools to Maintain a Robot and Measuring Instruments and Tooling for Periodic Robot InspectionsRobot Diagnosis and Monitoring ApproachesUseful Guidelines to Safeguard Robot Maintenance Personnel and Safeguarding Methods for Use during the Robot Maintenance ProcessModels for Performing Robot Maintenance Analysis Areas of Robotics Applications in Maintenance and Repair Human Factors and Safety Considerations in Robotics WorkplacesIntroductionHuman Factors-Related Issues during the Robotic Systems’ Factory Integration ProcessCommon Robot and Robot-Related Human TasksRules of Robotics in Regard to Humans and Advantages and Disadvantages of Robotization with Respect to Human FactorsHumans at Risk from Robots and Risk-Reducing Measures to Prevent Robot-Related Human AccidentsUseful Guidelines to Safeguard Robot Teachers and OperatorsApproaches for Limiting Robot Movements Methods for Analysis of Safety and Human Error in Robotics Workplaces Robot Testing, Costing, and Failure DataIntroductionRobot Performance TestingRobot Performance Testing MethodsRobot Reliability TestingRobot Testing and Start-Up Safety-Related FactorsRobot Project CostModels for Estimating Robot-Related CostsRobot Life Cycle Cost Estimation ModelsUseful Methods for Making Financial Decisions about RobotizationFailure Data Uses with Regard to Robots and Failure Reporting and Documentation System for RobotsMain Data Sources for ReliabilityRepair and Inspection Records-Related Requirements for Robots Mathematical Models for Analysis of Robot-Related Reliability and SafetyIntroductionModel IModel IIModel IIIModel IVModel VModel VI Appendix A: Bibliography—Literature on the Reliability and Safety of Robot Systems Index Problems and References appear at the end of each chapter.

Dr. B.S. Dhillon is a professor of engineering management in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ottawa. He has published over 376 articles on reliability engineering, maintainability, safety, and engineering management and authored 42 books on various aspects of healthcare, engineering management, design, reliability, safety, and quality. He received a PhD in industrial engineering from the University of Windsor.