Balancing Speed and Safety: Navigating the Challenges of High-Velocity Systems

As the demand for more productive and efficient Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) continues to grow, so does the need for these systems to operate at higher speeds. However, increasing the speed of AMRs introduces a new set of safety challenges that must be carefully managed to avoid accidents and maintain operational integrity. Without careful consideration, attempting to mitigate these risks may decrease the overall productivity. In this session, Dr. Andrew Singletary will explore the critical safety and reliability considerations that must be addressed when increasing the velocity of AMRs.
The discussion will cover key aspects such as load shifting, the increased uncertainty in perception and state estimation at faster speeds, and the longer braking distances required to avoid collisions. By analyzing real-world use cases and drawing from 3Laws’s experience in safety-critical software for fast-moving systems like aircraft and cars, this session will provide valuable insights into how to develop autonomy for AMRs that are both fast and safe. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the trade-offs involved in speed optimization and the strategies that can be employed to mitigate the associated risks.