Hazard
Identify explosive atmosphere, energised equipment, radiation, heat, gas, dust, water and structural instability.
Scope boundary · 20
Hazardous-area approval boundary
Separate robot mobility evidence from electrical, process, fire, radiation, contamination and site-entry approvals.
Evidence statusField mission framework · task, terrain and site validation requiredLast reviewed: 15 August 2026
20
FUURAA thesis
A robot described for inspection or rescue is not automatically authorised for every hazardous environment.
Engineering map
Turn the title into engineering objects that can be observed, measured and reviewed.
Each layer states the boundary to establish and the evidence needed for the next decision.
Approval
Map equipment ratings, site rules, permits, incident command and local law.
Change
Reassess batteries, payloads, radios, software, repairs and temporary route conditions.
Verification questions
Write the questions first, then decide whether a demo, test, pilot or operating record can answer them.
Each question needs an object, conditions, denominator, threshold and accountable decision owner.
- 01
Which authority accepts this configuration?
- 02
Does the payload change equipment suitability?
- 03
What conditions invalidate entry?
- 04
How is contamination controlled after return?
Evidence to preserve
Enable the next reader to reconstruct conditions, results, failures and the decision.
A conclusion alone loses reviewability; raw records, configuration and exclusions matter too.
- 01
Evidence package 1
Hazard and approval applicability matrix
- 02
Evidence package 2
Configuration-specific evidence pack
- 03
Evidence package 3
Entry, withdrawal and decontamination record
Scope boundary
State what this evidence still cannot be generalised to.
- 01
Ingress protection, manufacturer application imagery, field challenge results or general robot tests are not hazardous-area certification.
- 02
This is an engineering reading and decision framework; it does not replace application-specific risk assessment, conformity work, procurement acceptance or professional advice.
Sources and evidence status
Read standards scope, measurement evidence and application conclusions separately.
Source dates and review status remain visible; external sources open in a new tab.
01
NIST · Updated 2026-04-24
↗02Performance of Emergency Response Robots
Defines repeatable measures across mobility, sensing, endurance, communications, autonomy, logistics, safety and operator proficiency; mission profiles combine multiple elemental tests.
DARPA · Final event 2021-09-21 to 2021-09-24
↗03Subterranean Challenge Final Event
Teams deployed autonomous systems to map, navigate and identify artifacts in unfamiliar tunnel, urban-underground and cave environments.
Unitree Robotics · Manufacturer page · verified 2026-08-15
↗04Unitree B2 industrial quadruped specifications
Publishes configuration-dependent figures for speed, load, endurance, stairs, environmental rating, sensors and development interfaces.
Boston Dynamics · Spot SDK 5.1.9 · verified 2026-08-15
↗Spot Payload Developer Guide
Documents mechanical, electrical, software, service-fault and time-synchronisation requirements for integrating sensing and manipulation payloads.