Overview
ISO 22166-1:2021 - Robotics - Modularity for service robots - Part 1: General requirements defines requirements and guidelines for designing, specifying and integrating modular frameworks for service robots. It addresses open modular design, module interoperability, and integration of hardware and software modules to enable configurable service robots across personal and professional environments. This part establishes common principles to accelerate reuse, substitution and interoperability of modules while guiding the application of existing safety and security standards. Note: ISO 22166-1 is not itself a safety standard.
Key technical topics and requirements
ISO 22166-1 covers high-level requirements and guidance in these areas:
- General modularity principles: composability, integrability, interoperability, platform independence, openness, reusability and module granularity.
- Module classification and terminology: standardized terms for components, modules and module types to remove ambiguity between developers, manufacturers and integrators.
- Hardware interfaces: mechanical interfaces, power supply interfacing and electrical/communication connectors requirements.
- Software aspects: information models for module communication, access to module properties, error handling, software architectural models and interoperation of software modules.
- Safety & security guidance: how to apply system-level safety standards to modules, module-level safety considerations, steps for designing security into modules (physical and cyber security).
- Interoperability & data: data types and information exchange models to enable consistent module interoperability and simulation support.
- Identification, markings & documentation: module identification, user/service information and recommended templates (e.g., informative robot module template and examples).
- Testing and examples: informative annexes provide module examples, use cases and guidance for testing robot modules.
Practical applications and who uses this standard
ISO 22166-1 is practical for organizations involved in service-robot ecosystems:
- Modular service robot framework developers - to specify unambiguous performance and interface frameworks.
- Module designers & manufacturers - to design plug-and-play hardware/software modules with clear identification, interfaces and security/safety guidance.
- Service robot integrators - to select and integrate compatible modules to assemble application-specific robots efficiently.
- Researchers and standards bodies - to align modularity research with industry requirements and extend into domain-specific parts.
Practical benefits include faster product development, improved module reusability, simplified upgrades and clearer compliance pathways with existing safety/security standards (e.g., ISO 13482).
Related standards (context)
ISO 22166-1 complements system-level safety and robotics standards such as ISO 13482, ISO 10218-1/2 and other ISO/IEC and IEC work on security and robot safety. Future parts of the ISO 22166 series are planned to address module-specific and robot-type-specific requirements.