Disable Safety Gate error under certain conditions

  • Hello,


    I am working on a project with a palletizing robot and I want to have the users enter the robotic cell through a safety light curtain to remove the used interlayer cardboards.

    How can I have the robot not go into an error state when the safety gate signal is interrupted? I still want the robot to be stopped by the controller to ensure the safety but I'm looking for a way to not have to reset the whole system in each entry. Is there any other alterative for this kind of situation?


    Thank you

  • I assume this is a KUKA robot? What generation, controller model, and KSS version?


    For a basic robot with standard safety, there's really no option here -- if the robot is in AUT or EXT mode, and the Operator Safety (safety gate) signal is lost, the robot faults. Period. Any way of "bypassing" this would violate safety requirements.


    If the robot has SafeOperation installed, you might be able to engage Standstill Monitoring and "freeze" the robot without generating a fault when the light screen is violated. But, this creates a potential serious safety hazard: if someone is inside the safety perimeter, and someone or something else resets the light screen, you now have a person inside the perimeter with a live robot and no protection. You would need an interior fence, area scanner, or something similar that can prevent that situation in order to meet safety standards.

  • Yes, it is a KR120 R3200 PA with the KRC4 controller KSS 8.6.7.


    The user would always be blocking the light barrier when entering because there isn't any space for them to enter. But anyways, I don't have SafeOperation so I'll have to do the normal process of acknowledging and resetting then.


    Thank you

  • you may consider muting sensor. of course it need to be safety rated (same or higher than light barrier).

    so to activate muting function, program robot to go to safe place (confirmed by muting sensor), indicate that operator may approach. when operator is done and leaves area, have the robot move again.

    muting sensor would be wired/programmed in parallel with light barrier (OR function).


    if operator completes action while robot is at safe location, muting sensor would bypass signal from light barrier and everything would be fine. no operator safety acknowledgment would be needed.


    if for some reason robot moves away from safe location, while operator is in the danger zone, both muting sensor and light barrier would be tripped and robot would see it as a violation of operator safety (and stop). in this case operator safety acknowledgement would be required.


    of course you need to do a proper risk assessment (speeds/distances) to meet the standards.

    1) read pinned topic: READ FIRST...

    2) if you have an issue with robot, post question in the correct forum section... do NOT contact me directly

    3) read 1 and 2

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