1. Governance Model

We operate a robotics governance and assurance program aligned with internationally recognised safety, risk, and accountability frameworks for automation and robotic systems. Our approach is risk-based, independent, and auditable, focused on how robotics are deployed, controlled, and supervised in real-world environments.

1.1 Oversight

Executive responsibility: Governance oversight led by senior leadership, with independent review by an internal assurance function.
Safety & Compliance Lead: Accountable for regulatory alignment, safety obligations, and incident readiness.
Robotics Assurance Board: A multidisciplinary panel covering safety, operations, legal, and ethics that approves governance standards, reviews findings, and signs off on certifications.

1.2 Policies & Frameworks

Robotics Risk Management: Identification and mitigation of safety, operational, and legal risks arising from robotic use across the lifecycle.
System Documentation: Clear records of intended use, operating boundaries, control logic, and change history.
Human Control & Accountability: Defined responsibility for decisions, overrides, and emergency intervention.
Safety & Resilience: Controls covering access, fail-safes, emergency stops, segregation of duties, and misuse prevention.
Compliance & Auditability: Mapping of applicable national and sector-specific requirements, with evidence packs suitable for regulators, insurers, and partners.

2. Data & Operational Governance

Data usage: Verification of what data robotic systems collect, process, or transmit, and for what purpose.
Access control: Clear rules on who can operate, modify, or override systems, supported by logging and reviews.
Operational integrity: Checks to ensure systems behave consistently within approved conditions.
Retention & records: Defined retention of logs, footage, and operational records.
Cross-border operations: Confirmation that robotics use complies with local rules in every country of operation.

3. Assessment & Certification Discipline

Usage-based assessment: Evaluation of how robotic systems are used in practice, not how they are built.
Independence: Certification decisions are separated from advisory or commercial activities.
Evidence & certification: Organisations meeting required thresholds receive a Gates Robotics Certification with public verification. Misuse, material changes, or failed surveillance may result in suspension or withdrawal.

4. Incident Management & Disclosure

Incident readiness: Verification of documented response plans for safety events, misuse, or system failure.
Escalation & response: Clear escalation paths, containment steps, and corrective actions.
Disclosure: Alignment with local reporting obligations to authorities, insurers, and affected parties.

5. Third-Party & Supply Chain Oversight

Vendor and integrator review: Verification of roles, responsibilities, and safety dependencies across suppliers.
Right to review: Governance evidence available to regulators, clients, or partners when required.
Global consistency: Local operations supported by global standards, applied consistently across regions.

6. Ethics & Accountability

Human responsibility: People remain accountable for robotic actions at all times.
Transparency: Clear communication of system limits, risks, and operating conditions.
No unsafe practices: No concealment of risk, no bypassing of controls, no misleading claims.
Public interest: Higher scrutiny applied in environments involving workers, patients, the public, or critical infrastructure.

7. Contact

Questions on robotics governance, assessments, or certification: governance@gates-digital.com
Safety & compliance enquiries: compliance@gates-digital.com