Towards Safe Robots: Approaching Asimov’s 1st Law

Abstract

Up to now, state-of-the-art industrial robots played the most important role in real-world applications and more advanced, highly sensorized robots were usually kept in lab environments and remained in a prototypical stadium. Various factors like low robustness and the lack of computing power were large hurdles in realizing robotic systems for highly demanding tasks in e.g. domestic environments or as robotic co-workers. The recent increase in technology maturity finally made it possible to realize systems of high integration, advanced sensorial capabilities and enhanced power to cross this barrier and merge living spaces of humans and robot workspaces to at least a certain extent. In addition, the increasing effort various companies have invested to realize first commercial service robotics products has made it necessary to properly address one of the most fundamental questions of Human-Robot Interaction: