Safety Third: Autonomous Revolution

In this episode, Erik Reynolds sits down with Roberta Nelson Shea, Global Technical Compliance Officer at Teradyne Robotics, covering Universal Robots and MiR, and ISO convener for TC 299, for a wide-ranging conversation on how safety evolves across robotics, automation, and emerging technologies.Drawing on decades of experience and her role in shaping standards such as ISO TS 15066 and ISO 10218, Roberta discusses why modern safety standards focus on goals rather than prescriptions, where compliance and safety diverge, and why machines cannot interpret risk the way humans do. The conversation spans collaborative robots, legacy factory equipment, autonomous vehicles, and AI-enabled safety systems, including a candid exchange on expectations around risk and the idea that “zero” is still a number when it comes to safety outcomes.Check out our work: https://reynolds-moore.com/

Erik talks with Jens Müller, founder and managing director of Müller & Partner Sachverständige (M&P Experts) and longtime robotics safety specialist, about how safety fits into innovation for robots, mobile systems, and emerging humanoids. They dig into why standards matter, how to think about safety from the very first concept, and what startups and investors should know about compliance if they want to scale globally. Along the way, Jens shares lessons from three decades in industrial automation and why safety can be a real accelerator, not a roadblock. The conversation highlights how clear guidance and a structured safety approach help teams navigate new technologies with confidence.More on Müller & Partner Sachverständige (M&P Experts): https://mp-sachverstaendige.de/Check out our work: https://reynolds-moore.com/

Erik talks with Ashley Weis, Senior Technical Writer and Project Coordinator at Reynolds and Moore, who also leads the company’s cybersecurity efforts. They explore how documentation, coordination, and clear communication support the safety lifecycle and help teams manage complex projects from the start.Ashley discusses her path into safety from chemical manufacturing and shares how functional safety training, process improvement, and cybersecurity awareness shape her work across projects at Reynolds and Moore.Check out our work: https://reynolds-moore.com/

Erik talks with Dr. Chris Boyer, Associate Professor of Practice and one of the founding faculty of the new Resource and Energy Engineering program at the University of Texas at Arlington, and Principal at Amber Waves Energy. They explore how innovation and safety shape the future of energy, from hydrogen and solar to large-scale battery storage and the changing architecture of the power grid. Chris shares lessons from decades of work bridging academia and industry, explaining how real-world experience, evolving safety codes, and hands-on learning are driving the next generation of engineers.Check out our work: ⁠https://reynolds-moore.com/

Host Erik Reynolds talks with David Felio, President and CEO of The Realtime Group, about how regulation and standards are shaping the future of AI in safety-critical systems. They discuss California’s SB 53, what it could mean for physical AI, and how emerging standards like ISO/IEC TS 22440 are guiding risk assessment and certification. The conversation also touches on engineering culture, medical devices, and how safety can become a competitive advantage.More on The Realtime Group: https://therealtimegroup.com/Check out our work: https://reynolds-moore.com/