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R15.08

R15.08 (often written R15.08-1, -2, -3) is the American safety standard series for industrial mobile robots (IMRs)—i.e., AMRs/AGVs used in factories and warehouses, including mobile manipulators.

What R15.08 Covers

  1. Official scope: “American National Standard for Industrial Mobile Robots — Safety Requirements.” Part 1 defines technical safety requirements for the robot itself (hardware, software, sensors, safety functions).
  2. Applies to IMRs and fleets (IMRFs), including:
  3. Type A: mobile platform only (classic AMR).
  4. Type B: platform plus non‑manipulator attachment (e.g., rollers, lifts).
  5. Type C: mobile manipulators (industrial arm on a mobile base).
  6. Goal: ensure humans can work safely around mobile robots, beyond what legacy fixed‑robot and AGV standards cover.robotics247+2

Structure: Parts 1, 2, and 3

  1. R15.08‑1‑2020 (Part 1): requirements for IMR manufacturers (design, base safety functions, documentation).
  2. R15.08‑2 (Part 2): requirements for system integrators configuring and deploying IMR systems and fleets in a specific facility (layouts, traffic, interactions, validation).
  3. R15.08‑3 (Part 3, in development/early rollout): requirements for end users/operators (policies, procedures, ongoing risk management).

Relationship to Other Standards

  1. Builds on and complements:
  2. R15.06 / ISO 10218 for fixed industrial robot arms (referenced when a manipulator is on a mobile base).robotics247+1
  3. ISO 3691‑4 and B56.5 for driverless industrial trucks/AGVs, especially where forks or truck‑like behavior are involved.saphira+1
  4. Provides more granular risk modeling than some legacy standards, including a four‑tier severity system (S1–S4 from minor to fatal injuries) tied into exposure and avoidance considerations.[saphira]​
R15.08 defines three IMR “types” based on what’s mounted on the mobile base and what capabilities it has:
  1. Type A – Base AMR only
  2. An industrial autonomous mobile robot whose only capabilities are locomotion and autonomous navigation.
  3. Think: a pure mobile platform that just moves itself around with no added payload device beyond basic load deck.
  4. Type B – AMR with attachment (no robot arm)
  5. A Type A AMR that has an additional attachment which is not a manipulator arm.
  6. Examples: lift tables, conveyors, racks, carts, pallet modules, rollers, tow hitches, etc. The attachment adds capability (carry, lift, tow) but does not provide articulated manipulation.
  7. Type C – Mobile manipulator
  8. A mobile platform (AMR or AGV) with a robotic manipulator (robot arm) as the attachment.
  9. This is the “mobile manipulator” category: a base that can navigate plus an arm that can pick, place, assemble, open doors, etc.


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Contents What R15.08 Covers Structure: Parts 1, 2, and 3 Relationship to Other Standards