Online hazard analysis for autonomous robots

This paper presents a novel approach for designing robotic systems. The methodology aims to build on traditional functional hazard analysis, with the addition of processes aimed to improve the safety of autonomous personal robots. This will be achieved with the use of a safety protection system, developed during the hazard analysis stage. This protection system will serve dual purposes. Firstly, it will be used to verify that safety constraints, identified during hazard analysis, have been implemented appropriately. Secondly, it will serve as a high-level safety enforcer, by governing the actions of the robot, preventing the control system from performing unsafe operations. This research is particularly focused on the safety of human-robot interaction