UL Solutions has issued the first global safety certification for a robot designed to operate autonomously in a public environment. The certification was granted to Tally, the shelf-scanning robot developed by Simbe Robotics, which moves independently through retail store aisles to collect product and inventory data.
Tally was certified under UL 3300, a safety standard for service, communication, information and entertainment robots operating in environments where they interact with people. As part of the certification process, both the robot and its charging dock were evaluated through a series of safety tests, including assessments related to fire risk, electric shock protection and the safe operation of autonomous mobility in spaces where people move unpredictably.
According to UL Solutions, robots operating in public environments require a different level of safety evaluation compared with industrial robots, which typically function in controlled or restricted areas. Robots working in grocery stores, airports or hotels must be able to navigate safely among customers and employees while responding to changing and sometimes unpredictable human behavior.
Tally is designed to help retailers digitize store shelves. The robot travels autonomously through store aisles using sensors and computer vision to scan products and price labels, detect out-of-stock items and identify misplaced goods. The collected data allows store staff to respond more quickly to inventory gaps and improve product availability.
Jeff Gee, chief design officer at Simbe Robotics, said the system has been designed since 2015 to operate safely alongside shoppers and store employees. The certification confirms that the robot can function safely in busy retail environments.
The certification comes at a time when service robots are increasingly appearing in public spaces. According to the International Federation of Robotics, the global market for professional service robots continues to expand, with deployments in sectors such as retail, hospitality, airports and logistics.
Regulators are also paying closer attention to safety standards for these systems. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the United States recently added the UL 3300 standard to its list of recognized safety certification standards for workplace environments.
With the certification of Tally, UL Solutions is taking an early step in establishing safety benchmarks for robots that operate directly among the public. As autonomous systems become more common in everyday environments, independent safety certification may play a growing role in building trust among retailers, employees and consumers.
