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RELIABILITY, SAFETY, AND COMPLIANCE 129
As an aside, groups of people are significantly worried about the very presence of
robots. One such group is the Anti-Robot Militia (http://unite-and-resist.cloudmakers.
org). It’s the one group mentioned in this book that I find a bit disturbing for a list of
reasons that include, among other things, incitement to violence. But I include it here
for reasons of balance, intellectual curiosity, humor, and a minor sense of civic duty.
I believe that at least some truth can be found in the utterances of all people, if one reads
with judgment, care, and discerning eyes. I still don’t quite know what to make of
the site.
Let’s get back to the topic. Many aspects of robot design can cause problems, even
injury, for designers and users of robots. To avoid such problems, consider designing
the robot according to published safety standards such as UL or CE. Safety agencies
such as Underwriter Labs and TUV can provide written guidelines. Advice herein can
provide guidance, but to be sure about the safety of the robot’s design, consult these
organizations. These groups publish safety regulations and offer testing services at their
labs. At the very least, purchase the relevant safety specifications mentioned at www.ul.
com/robot/. Further sites to check out include www.tuv.com and www.1metlab.com.
To supplement the safety recommendations from the standards agencies, here are a
few more pointers. If, for any reason, information herein conflicts with information in
the safety standards, follow the safety standard first and foremost.

Panic

Any robot should have a panic button that is red, visible, and intuitive to use. Make it
his nose if need be, but don’t forget to put one on. The button should stop all robot activ-
ity and shut down the power systems at the power source. Once somebody is scared
enough to press the button, it must provide immediate relief to all concerned. That said,
don’t forget that every kid (big and small) will be sorely tempted to press the button.
(Am I right out there, kids?) If the robot is carrying out some critical function that
should not be interrupted lightly, then put some warning, or kidproof shield, over the
panic button.

Batteries
As a reservoir of energy, batteries present a natural threat to humans. They come in all
shapes and sizes and are sold over the counter. But the more exotic batteries, with char-
acteristics of particular interest to robot designers, can be much more dangerous than
the batteries sold in stores. They look very much the same since they are designed for
the same types of battery holders. Take as a clue, for instance, the warning on many toys