Mantis Robotics Certifies First High-Speed Fenceless Robot
Mantis Robotics announced its MR-1 robot has become the world's first fenceless, high-speed industrial arm to receive safety certification to ISO 10218 and ISO 13849 standards. The certification marks a significant step in industrial automation, allowing robots to work at high speeds alongside humans without protective cages. The company stated this lays the foundation for safe humanoids and AI robots in various environments.
- The San Francisco-based company, founded in 2020 by CEO Gerry Vannuffelen, has raised a total of $12.2M in funding. Key investors include Emerald Technology Ventures and the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, which participated in a $5 million funding round in late 2024. - The MR-1 robot's certification is to ISO 10218, which sets safety requirements for the design and use of industrial robots, and ISO 13849, which governs the reliability of safety-related control systems for all machinery. The certification was issued by SGS Fimko Oy, a subsidiary of the global inspection and certification company SGS SA. - The MR-1 robot has a 5kg payload capacity, a 900mm reach, and can achieve speeds of up to 10 m/s, which is significantly faster than many collaborative robots. It utilizes a proprietary sensor suite to create a 360° "safety bubble" that allows it to perceive its environment and adjust its motion in real-time to avoid collisions with humans and other objects. - Mantis Robotics claims the MR-1 can reduce deployment costs by as much as 75% and can be set up in under an hour using its code-free "Mantis Studio" software, which features a 3D digital twin for simulation. This allows it to operate within the same footprint as a human worker, a key advantage in space-constrained manufacturing environments. - The global market for collaborative robots, or "cobots," was valued at over $2.9 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to over $17 billion by 2033. This growth is driven by the increasing demand for automation in industries like manufacturing, automotive, and logistics. - Franziska Bossart, head of the Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, stated their investment in Mantis Robotics aligns with their commitment to human-centric technology that fosters safer and more ergonomic workplaces. - The MR-1 is equipped with 47 embedded safety functions, a significant increase from the 17 found in many common robots, with all features certified to Performance Level d (PL=d), indicating a high degree of reliability.
