System safety concept for remotely controlled mobile machine systems

In large-scale machine automation applications, the safety related remote control functions are complicated and difficult to analyze. They can be compared with automation systems in process industries. In such a context, safety aspects must be understood to be an important part of systems engineering. In the complex machinery systems the risk analysis must be done in several levels to be able cover the entire machine system. One must consider use of the machinery, operators’ actions, system level control functions, and machine onboard safety issues. The automated machine system must be divided into sub systems such as the local safeguarding system in the production area, machine onboard systems, factory-wide communication system, the production control system and the remote control stations. This means more co-operations between machine manufactures, their subcontractors and the end users.