What is functional safety in electric drives?

Functional safety in electric drives ensures that a motion control system reacts predictably and safely in the event of a fault or in dangerous situations. According to ISO 13849-1, safety functions are designed to reduce the risk of hazardous movements, protect operators and ensure compliance with machine safety regulations. For servo drives, this means integrating mechanisms that reliably stop, limit, or control motion when specific conditions are reached.

Why is functional safety in machine design important?

Effective functional safety helps engineers:

• Reduce the risk of injury caused by unintended movements.
• Prevent damage to machinery in the case of faults or abnormal operation.
• Comply with ISO 13849-1 requirements for performance levels.
• Simplify validation and documentation of safety-related functions.
• Build machines that are easier to commission, operate, and maintain.