Accounting for the Safety of People with Disabilities in Human-Robot Interactions

UL 3300, the Standard for Service, Communication, Information, Education

and Entertainment Robots, covers robots for use by, or in close proximity to, the general consumer. SCIEE robots perform various tasks independently in public spaces and commercial spaces, such as restaurants, grocery stores, and banks – interacting with, and working alongside people to help increase convenience, customer service, and efficiency.

UL 3300 includes safety considerations for human-robot interaction, with the goal of being as inclusive as possible. Throughout the standard, considerations are included for “vulnerable persons,” which are defined as individuals “at greater risk of harm from products or systems, due to age, level of literacy, physical or mental condition or limitations, or inability to access product safety information.”

Since this is the first edition, considerations will be expanded and

refined as the standard undergoes continuous maintenance to account for

evolving technologies and safety hazards. It is important to note that these steps are only the first steps in helping consider the unique needs, hazards, and usability requirements of people with disabilities.