a dangerous failure is limited to a timeframe of around once in 11 centuries," Parmer says.

A key aspect of this long timeframe is to ensure that all safety relevant signals are acted on and any failure is dealt with safely. When components fail, an inevitability with any type of control systems, the system must move to a de-energized safe state. For example, a moving arm must stop or move to a position where it no longer poses a threat. “The processes must run a continuous level of diagnostics that detects any single point of failure and maintains a safe state," Parmer says.

Adopting another emerging technology, wireless networking, will now create the possibility of extending safety shutdowns to an object in motion, where hardware systems were impossible. Sending all signals over the same network simplifies the overall architecture. Embedding the safety protocol like PROFISafe into the standard network means the network components need no special safety rating.  

The intelligence protecting the safety integrity is embedded in both ends of the communications path so wireless networks, routing safety signals through the air, don’t compromise safety integrity levels since any failure in the communication will cause a shutdown to a safe state.

Integrated safety gives design engineers and users more safety and more versatility. It can also enhance safety over a product’s entire lifetime.

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