Robotics & Automation worked example

Robot Safety Distance with robot approach and reach speed k of 800 mm / sec: a worked example

Suppose robot approach and reach speed k falls to 800 mm / sec. This page works the full calculation at that level so you can see exactly which result moves and by how much. Estimate ISO 13855 style safety distance between a moving robot and a presence-sensing device from approach speed, system stopping time, intrusion distance, and a margin.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Robot approach/reach speed K: 800 mm / sec (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 1,600)
  • Total stopping time T (robot + control response): 0.35 sec (held at the documented default)
  • Reach-past intrusion allowance C: 128 mm (held at the documented default)
  • Applied safety margin multiplier: 1.2 x (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Base safety distance = (approach speed K x overall system stopping time T) + intrusion distance C.
  • Required safety distance works out to 43,008 in at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Base product works out to 35,840 value at these inputs.
  • Multiplier works out to 1.2 x at these inputs.
  • Factor A x B works out to 280 value at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where robot approach and reach speed k sits at 1,600 mm / sec and the headline result is 86,016 in, this scenario comes in 50% below the baseline at 43,008 in.
  • It multiplies approach speed by total stopping time, adds the intrusion allowance, then applies a safety margin to return the minimum safeguarding distance. When the numbers land here, the stressed input is the lever to work; the walkthrough above shows exactly how much each output recovers as it climbs back toward the baseline.

Results at a glance

  • Required safety distance: 43,008 in (headline result)
  • Base product: 35,840 value
  • Multiplier: 1.2 x
  • Factor A x B: 280 value

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Robot Safety Distance calculator, set robot approach and reach speed k to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.