Evolution of Safety Requirements in Industrial Robotics: Comparative Analysis of ISO 10218-1/2 (2011 vs. 2025) and Integration of ISO/TS 15066

2026-02-19

AI Summary

The advancement of industrial and collaborative robotics has introduced novel human–robot interaction paradigms, posing new challenges to existing safety standards in functional safety, cybersecurity, and collaborative operation. This study systematically examines the evolution of ISO 10218:2011 to ISO 10218:2025, incorporating ISO/TS 15066, through comparative textual analysis, terminological mapping, and tracking of technical clause developments. For the first time, cybersecurity and protection against unauthorized access are formally integrated into the industrial robot safety standard framework. The work proposes a revised classification for robots and collaborative applications and achieves normative incorporation of ISO/TS 15066, thereby establishing a comprehensive safety framework encompassing mechanical, functional, and digital safety dimensions. This significantly extends the safety requirements for modern networked robotic systems.

Technology Category

Intelligent Robots: Human-Robot InteractionNatural Language Processing: Safety and RobustnessPhilosophy and Ethics of AI: Safety, Robustness & Trustworthiness

Application Category

Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomySystems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Novel mobile and WoT systems, and system-of-systemsSecurity and Privacy: Authentication, authorization, and access control

Abstract

Industrial robotics has established itself as an integral component of large-scale manufacturing enterprises. Simultaneously, collaborative robotics is gaining prominence, introducing novel paradigms of human-machine interaction. These advancements have necessitated a comprehensive revision of safety standards, specifically incorporating requirements for cybersecurity and protection against unauthorized access in networked robotic systems. This article presents a comparative analysis of the ISO 10218:2011 and ISO 10218:2025 standards, examining the evolution of their structure, terminology, technical requirements, and annexes. The analysis reveals significant expansions in functional safety and cybersecurity, the introduction of new classifications for robots and collaborative applications, and the normative integration of the technical specification ISO/TS 15066. Consequently, the new edition synthesizes mechanical, functional, and digital safety requirements, establishing a comprehensive framework for the design and operation of modern robotic systems.

Problem

• industrial robotics
• collaborative robotics
• safety standards
• cybersecurity
• ISO 10218

Innovation

• functional safety
• cybersecurity
• collaborative robotics
• ISO/TS 15066
• safety standards evolution