Functional Safety Certification for Autonomous Combine Harvesters: ISO 18497 Explained

Date
2027-05-17
Location
Online
Host
Zach L

About this event

A Standards Interpretation Session for Automation Engineers pursuing functional safety certification. A live 30-minute standards interpretation session on ISO 18497 (Highly Automated Agricultural Machines) for autonomous combine harvesters, built for automation engineers pursuing functional safety certification. What We'll Cover: What ISO 18497 (Highly Automated Agricultural Machines) requires and how its scope applies to autonomous combine harvesters Mapping ISO 18497 clauses to the certification evidence assessors expect System-specific hazards and safety functions typical of autonomous combine harvesters Common findings that delay certification, and how to avoid them A practical readiness roadmap for automation engineers preparing for assessment Related topics: ISO 18497 · Autonomous Co

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About ISO 18497 (Highly Automated Agricultural Machines)

This event covers the compliance, engineering, and verification requirements defined by ISO 18497.

ISO 18497 addresses safety for highly automated and autonomous agricultural machines: perception and protection principles enabling driverless field operation, boundary and obstacle handling, and supervised autonomy transitions.

What it regulates

Requirements and verification principles for autonomous ag operation: human detection capability appropriate to speeds, defined operating boundaries, fallback behaviors, and marking/interaction with persons.

Who must comply

Autonomous tractor/robot developers and OEMs preparing for driverless field machinery markets.

Key requirements of ISO 18497

  • Autonomous operation states and transitions
  • Detection performance principles for persons/obstacles in crops and open field
  • Boundary containment and geofencing behavior
  • Verification approaches for field autonomy

Key concepts: ISO 18497

Containment
Assured stay-within-boundary behavior as a primary safety function.
Field ODD
Crops, dust, uneven ground — the detection environment shaping sensor claims (ties to IEC TS 62998).
Supervised autonomy
Remote oversight models with defined operator responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions: ISO 18497

Can 3691-4-style confined zones apply on farms?

Fields lack physical confinement, so 18497 leans on detection, boundaries and procedure; the zone logic survives conceptually (controlled area, access rules) but with geofencing and supervision instead of fences.

Standard information based on the published text of ISO 18497 (Highly Automated Agricultural Machines). Event content is provided by the host. For authoritative guidance, consult the official standard body.