Glossary · Robotics
Human-robot collaboration (HRC)
Also known as: HRC, Human-robot interaction
German: Mensch-Roboter-Kollaboration (MRK)
In industrial robotics, human-robot collaboration (HRC) is a form of work in which people and robots share a workspace during automatic operation and may interact directly, protected by collaborative safety methods instead of complete physical separation.
- Robotics
- Standards
- Functional safety
In one sentence
Human-robot collaboration (HRC) means people and robots share a workspace during automatic operation, protected by collaborative safety methods.
Example
In an HRC workstation, the worker inserts cables while the robot holds the housing; speed and separation monitoring slows the robot when the worker leans in.
How it applies
- Engineering: Levels of interaction range from coexistence (shared space, different times) to true collaboration (simultaneous work on the same part). The chosen collaborative method, sensors and limits follow from the Risk assessment of the task.
- Operation: Ergonomics, predictability of robot motion and training influence acceptance. Workers need to know what the robot will do next and how to stop it.
- Documentation: The documentation team should describe the intended collaborative task step by step, the protective measures and their limits, the behavior after contact or intrusion, and the Residual risk and training requirements for the user. Safety information must not suggest that HRC removes all hazards.
Human-robot collaboration vs. human oversight
HRC concerns physical interaction in a shared workspace. Human oversight (AI Act) concerns people supervising decisions of an AI system. An HRC cell with AI functions may need both.