The new safety requirements for robotic systems
Technologies are constantly evolving, and standards must adapt to ensure a safe environment for workers.
ISO-10218-2, which covers safety requirements for robotic systems and integration environments, was revised in 2025 to incorporate the latest technological advances and strengthen the safety of collaborative robots.
These changes aim to align safety practices with technological advances and facilitate the integration of robots into modern industrial environments.
Here’s an overview of the main new features.
Main new features of the ISO-10218-2 2025 standard
Extended Guidelines for Complex Robotic Systems
The new version of the standard provides detailed guidelines for the integration of more complex robotic systems, including networks of collaborative robots.
Improvement of functional safety requirements
The standard updates functional safety requirements to ensure that robots can operate safely, even in emergency or failure scenarios.
Improved risk management
More robust risk management methodologies have been included to identify, assess and mitigate potential risks associated with robotic systems.
Validation and testing protocol
New validation and testing protocols have been introduced to ensure that robots and their associated systems meet the highest safety standards.
Ergonomic considerations
The standard now incorporates ergonomic considerations to ensure that collaborative work environments are safe and comfortable for human workers.
By taking ergonomic considerations into account, the standard helps improve worker well-being, reducing the risks of musculoskeletal disorders and fatigue.
Adoption of human injury thresholds
It adopts the human injury thresholds of ISO/TS 15066, covering 29 body regions with specific force and pressure limits.
Clarification of operating modes
The management of transitions between automatic, manual, and teaching modes is better defined to reduce risks
Formal definition of collaboration modes
A small change to our paradigms: it is not the robot that must be collaborative, but the application that must be verified and validated as collaborative.
Redefinition of protected areas
In the old version of ISO 10218-2 2011 there could be a risk of confusion with the ISO TS 15066 2016 standard for spaces where the robot and the operator had to perform simultaneous tasks. Additionally, spaces can now be dynamic and changed according to different tasks.
Introduction to cybersecurity risks
As systems become increasingly interconnected, new risks emerge. Unauthorized access to the robot control system, programming software, and data must be prevented to avoid compromising the safety integrity of the robots.
Conclusion
The revision of the ISO-10218-2 2025 standard represents a significant step forward in the field of collaborative robot safety. It addresses the challenges posed by emerging technologies and strengthens worker protection, while facilitating the integration and use of complex robotic systems.
Examples of applications for industrial collaborative robots (Cobots)
MLX300 – A 3rd generation, more innovative than ever!
The MLX300 is Yaskawa’s third-generation solution for environments requiring robots to integrate with programmable logic controllers (PLCs). MLX300 is a software solution based on our advanced robot controllers, where all programming, configuration, maintenance and troubleshooting are done through the PLC interface via additional instructions (AOI).
Robotics: A powerful partner during Covid-19
With factory closings, shortages, delivery disruptions, and a paralyzed supply chain, the pandemic that has turned the world upside down is more than ever highlighting the pressure that the world economy is putting on manufacturing production. A host of factories are now turning to traditional and collaborative robotics in order to overcome the major challenges raised by COVID-19. In the age of the coronavirus, how can industrial robotics benefit your plant?