Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1442859
32 | The Future of Robotics Texas Instruments Exposing humans to dangerous conditions to the skin, eyes, limbs, or the head can lead to serious injury in seconds. To avoid these dangers, we have created safeguards that we use daily to protect against hazardous environments, harsh conditions, and contact with harmful materials. Some examples of these exist in vehicles and manufacturing plants. Automobile manufacturers mandated the use of seat belts in 1968 for new cars. Traffic- light usage, now an afterthought for traffic-flow regulation, became widespread as the need to govern the pattern and flow of vehicles on the road became critical. Similarly, city planners installed the first crosswalk in England in 1951. In heavily populated cities where pedestrians and cars traveled on the same streets, the crosswalk safeguarded walkers and created automobile rules when they were present. Manufacturing plants offer additional examples of existing, long-accepted safeguards. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as neon vests, helmets, safety glasses, and safety shoes protect workers and visitors when in the presence of operating machinery. Protecting humans' heads, eyes, and feet while increasing their visibility across the plant floor adds a simple measure to modify behaviors to address safety. These tools serve as insurance. We hope not to need them but are glad they are in place when we do. To ensure they are used correctly, safety professionals created Just as humans need tools and safeguards to ensure safe operations, industrial robots also have features that operators need to protect. Electrically Protecting Robots from Failure Adam Kimmel, Mouser Electronics