Richard Piggin

Northampton Community College, Science Club

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Richard Piggin is a leading authority in industrial robotic safety, with a career focused on transforming how safety systems are integrated into high-performance manufacturing environments. His research centers on the evolution of safety-related control technology, particularly the shift from conventional guarding to programmable safety controllers and safety fieldbus systems. Piggin’s major contributions include pioneering the application of SafetyBUS p at BMW, demonstrating how availability, reliability, and comprehensive diagnostics can meet the demands of increasingly powerful robots with higher payloads and faster cycle times. His work has directly influenced the development of flexible safety architectures that do not compromise productivity. While his most-cited papers—such as "A New Approach to Robotic Safety" (2002, 4 citations) and "Developments in Industrial Robotic Safety" (2005, 3 citations)—may have modest citation counts, their impact is profound within the niche of industrial automation, where they have guided engineers and standard-setters in rethinking risk mitigation. Piggin’s research remains essential reading for anyone designing safe, efficient robotic workcells in modern manufacturing.