TS EN ISO 18497-1

TS EN ISO 18497-1 is the first part of a standard focused on the safe design of partially automated, semi-autonomous and autonomous functions in agricultural machinery and tractors. Its concern is how the operator’s role, machine behaviour and residual risks must be handled as automation increases. This part frames both the design principles and the kind of information the manufacturer needs to provide for safe use.

Safety thinking for automated machine functions

In general technical terms, automated agricultural machines combine sensors, control systems, software and actuators to carry out some or all tasks with reduced human intervention. That changes the safety picture: sensing, decision-making, motion planning, reaction to unexpected obstacles and interaction with the operator all become critical. The purpose of this document is to help establish more specific safety requirements, verification means and instructions for use for such machinery.

What is covered, and where the boundary lies

• Covers agricultural machinery and tractors used in agricultural applications that have partially automated, semi-autonomous or autonomous functions.
• Provides guidance on the type of information the manufacturer should supply about safe working practices and residual risks.
• Addresses significant hazards under intended use and under reasonably foreseeable misuse during normal operation and service.
• Does not apply to forestry applications.
• Does not apply to work on public roads, including related braking and steering requirements.
• Does not apply to machines manufactured before the publication date or to systems applied to machines put into use before that date.

This part is not a complete set of detailed design-verification rules; rather, it sets out a framework for developing those more specific requirements. Machine-specific type-C standards may also contain safety requirements for non-automated functions.

In short, the standard brings together terminology and design principles for understanding how automation affects safety in agricultural machinery, while helping manufacturers structure the safety information they provide to users.