Choosing the right safety solution depends on your application, existing infrastructure, and how much integration work you want to do.
HMS offers four flexible solutions for implementing functional safety, each designed to suit different product architectures, team capabilities, and time-to-market goals. Here's how they compare:
The fastest and easiest way to add functional safe IOs.
A rugged, plug-and-play input/output (I/O) module that mounts directly on your machine for fast deployment of functional safety in mobile or industrial systems.
Best for: System integrators or mobile machine builders who need a fast, reliable way to add functional safety and safe communication of critical signals to their application.
Ideal applications: AGVs and AMRs where no local safety sensors are currently installed, or where existing safety sensors (e.g., safety scanners with OSSD output) need to be combined with a remote safe stop via a safety fieldbus network must be added with minimal modification – all with minimal modification. Also suitable for controlling mobile add-on equipment like robot arms or conveyors.
Embedded hardware with enhanced safety features.
Advanced safety I/O board for integration inside your device or machine.
Best for: OEMs building advanced mobile machines or logistics equipment needing enhanced safety functions in a compact, embedded format.
Ideal applications: AGVs/AMRs with safety devices such as bumpers, E-Stops, or laser scanners, where the outputs of these devices need to be processed to ensure safe control of the machine's movement. Also suitbale for AGVs/AMRs that require advanced safety features in an embedded, compact or custom-specific form factor.
Embedded hardware with standard safety features
Safety I/O board with standard safety features for integration inside your device or machine.
Best for: Device manufacturers in factory automation who want a head start with hardware already built for safety.
Ideal applications: Factory automation devices, like nut-runners, welding, or gluing controllers, and safety doors that need standard safety I/Os in a compact, embedded format, ideal for adding remote stop or E-Stop capability with minimal effort.
For expert teams building a safety device from scratch
You build the hardware, we deliver the software, giving you the freedom to design and customize your safety solution.
Best for: Teams with in-house expertise looking to integrate safety protocols directly into custom hardware designs.
Ideal applications: PLCs, servo drives, or sensors (e.g., encoders, LiDAR, radar) where full flexibility is needed for integrating safety protocols into existing hardware platforms.
Comparison table: Compare technical capabilities, integration requirements, certifications.
