Panasonic obtains international certification for robotic mobility chair

Panasonic has obtained the international safety standard IEC 62061 certification for its safety control system designed for robotic mobility chair.

The IEC standard is required by the international safety standard ISO 13482 applicable to personal care robots.

This certification means that the Japan Quality Assurance Organization has recognized that Panasonic’s safety control system for personal care robots conforms to the IEC 62061 standard: “Safety of machinery – functional safety of safety-related electrical, electronic and programmable electronic systems”.

Robotic mobility refers to personal mobility equipped with platooning and autonomous locomotion capabilities, and it may be utilized to support the safe and comfortable mobility of Passengers with Reduced Mobility (PRM) in large facilities such as airports.

The safety control system for robotic mobility is equipped with the ability to prevent collisions, monitor speed, and detect sensor malfunctions making it an important technology for ensuring the safety of robotic mobility to be utilized in an environment with people.

The international standard, ISO 13482 – “Robots and robotic devices – Safety requirements for personal care robot” – was issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in February 2014 as the international standard for personal care robot safety.

And Panasonic’s safety control system for robotic mobility has been certified as having fulfilled the IEC 62061, the requirements for functional safety of machinery, prescribed by the aforementioned ISO.

Having received third-party certification for its safety control system, Panasonic will further endeavor to implement such technologies into society and to help bring about a safe and convenient lifestyle with personal care robots.

Panasonic’s robotic mobility is being exhibited at the International Robot Exhibition 2019, a major robotics trade show held from December 18 to 21, 2019 at the Tokyo Big Sight (Koto-ku, Tokyo).

The development of Panasonic’s robotic mobility and safety control system was in part assisted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization’s “Technology Development Project for Robot Commercialization Applications” and the Cabinet Office’s “Strategic Innovation Program Phase 2 Physical Space Digital Data Processing Infrastructure”.