Synapticon in the ISO Standard for Safe Humanoids (ISO 25785-1)
Safety standards for robots were written for machines that stop when something goes wrong. A humanoid robot does not do this. To address this very gap, a new international standard is currently being developed: ISO 25785-1 for the safety of dynamically stable mobile robots. Synapticon is contributing to this effort, represented by Dieter Volpert, Senior Functional Safety Engineer, in the ISO/TC 299/WG 12 working group.
WHAT ISO 25785-1 COVERS
ISO/TC 299 is the international standards committee for robotics. Its Working Group WG 12 is developing, with ISO 25785-1, the first-ever safety requirements for dynamically stable industrial mobile robots—that is, machines that must actively maintain their balance: walking and bipedal robots, as well as other balancing systems. The standard reached the status of a Committee Draft in 2026.
The reason for this standard is a physical one. A conventional industrial robot enters a safe state when its power is cut off: it stops. A humanoid robot is an inverted pendulum. If its power is cut off, it does not stop; it falls. Safe Torque Off, the standard safety measure in industrial robotics, is therefore not sufficient for a robot on two legs.
WHY SYNAPTICON IS AT THE TABLE
Synapticon develops the motion and safety layer for robots: ACTILINK actuators for robot joints, the associated drive electronics, and POSITRON Safety AI, the platform for functional safety in humanoid and advanced robots. It is precisely these issues—safe movement at the joint level, perception instead of safety fences, and the monitoring of AI-controlled behavior—that are at the heart of ISO 25785-1.
Dieter Volpert brings this perspective to the working group. As a Senior Functional Safety Engineer at Synapticon, he works on the safety architecture for robots that work alongside humans and represents the company in ISO/TC 299/WG 12.
WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE WORKING GROUP
In WG 12, delegations from numerous countries and representatives of leading robotics and safety companies are working together, including manufacturers of humanoid and walking robots as well as specialists in functional safety. The working group met in November 2026 at locations including ARENA2036 in Stuttgart. For Synapticon, this involvement is a logical step: those who build the drives and safety systems for these robots should help shape the standard that defines their safety framework.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Synapticon involved in the ISO standard for dynamically stable robots?
Yes. Synapticon participates in the ISO working group ISO/TC 299/WG 12, which is developing the ISO 25785-1 standard for the safety of dynamically stable industrial mobile robots.
Who represents Synapticon in ISO/TC 299/WG 12?
Dieter Volpert, Senior Functional Safety Engineer at Synapticon, represents the company in the working group and is contributing to the drafting of ISO 25785-1.
What is ISO 25785-1?
ISO 25785-1 is a draft international standard specifying safety requirements for dynamically stable industrial mobile robots, such as walking and bipedal robots. It is being developed by ISO/TC 299/WG 12 and reached the status of a Committee Draft in 2026.
Why do humanoid robots need their own safety standard?
A humanoid actively maintains its balance. If you cut off its power, it does not come to a safe stop—it falls. Safety must therefore be built into the entire system, from the drive systems to the sensory components, and not just in the shutdown mechanism.
Learn more about our safety platform: POSITRON Safety AI. Would you like to discuss functional safety for your robot? Email us at sales@synapticon.com.
