Beyond an Emergency Stop: Intelligent Robot Collision Response
Instead of a simple stop event, Collision Detection & Reaction supports a controlled recovery process.
Unexpected robot collisions can bring production to an abrupt stop. B&R’s Collision Detection & Reaction helps machines respond more effectively by detecting collisions and automatically initiating a controlled retract movement.
In automated production, even a small disruption can have significant consequences. A typical example for that can be found in high-speed packaging applications. A delta robot transfers products from a conveyor into trays when a jammed product protrudes into its path. In a conventional system, the collision results in an immediate stop. The machine must then be inspected, the obstruction removed, and production restarted, creating downtime and increasing the risk of damage to robots, tooling or products.
Moving beyond a simple stop
For manufacturers, the challenge is not only detecting a collision, but managing what happens next. Traditional solutions typically stop the robot and leave it in the collision position until an operator intervenes. Collision Detection & Reaction from B&R takes a different approach. By continuously monitoring robot movement as well as motion and torque behavior, the software identifies collisions and automatically initiates a controlled retract movement away from the obstacle. The result is a managed recovery process instead of a simple stop event.
In many robotic applications, a collision doesn't just stop a machine, it interrupts an entire production process. With Collision Detection & Reaction, we looked beyond collision detection itself. Our focus was not only on identifying a collision, but also on what happens next. By automatically initiating a controlled retract movement, the feature helps make recovery faster and more manageable.
Reducing downtime and limiting impact
When a robot can move away from the source of a collision, operators may be able to resolve the issue more efficiently and return the machine to operation more quickly. A controlled retract movement can also help reduce the risk and severity of damage to robots, grippers, tooling, machine components, and products. This contributes to three key goals shared by many manufacturers: minimizing unplanned downtime, protecting equipment and products, and building machines that can handle unexpected situations more robustly. As robotic applications continue to increase in speed and complexity, these capabilities become increasingly important for maintaining machine availability and productivity.
Designed for machine-centric robotics
Collision Detection & Reaction is integrated directly into B&R's Machine-Centric Robotics environment. The feature offers configurable collision detection sensitivity and reaction behavior, helping it adapt to different applications. Simplified configuration and automatic parameter calculation further reduce engineering effort during implementation and commissioning.