UL Solutions Opens Testing Lab for Commercial and Service Robotics

UL Solutions, Inc. has opened its first commercial and service robot testing laboratory.

The facility, located in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, is designed to provide testing and certification services for robots, with a focus on identifying potential safety hazards, particularly in human-robot interactions.

“Our new robot laboratory will play a critical role in identifying and addressing pressing safety concerns, enabling businesses in Korea and worldwide to harness the benefits while protecting people and property,” commented Yun Chung, Regional Managing Director at UL Solutions in South Korea.

Located approximately 39 kilometers south of Seoul, the facility sits in the midst of a robotic manufacturing hub. It will serve as a local resource for manufacturers in the country by conducting safety evaluations and certifications for robotics technologies.

UL Solutions’ new lab will offer testing for compliance with UL 3300, the Standard for Safety for Service, Communication, Information, Education, and Entertainment Robots. The standard covers safety concerns such as mobility, fire and shock hazards, external manipulation, and interaction with vulnerable individuals. Requirements include speed limits and object detection capabilities based on robot size, as well as visual and audible indicators to communicate movement to people nearby.

Its establishment coincides with rapid growth in the service robotics sector, which now extends beyond traditional industrial applications into hotels, restaurants, healthcare, retail, domestic assistance, and delivery services.