BRAMPTON, ON—Auto parts supplier Matcor Automotive Inc. has been fined $270,000 after a maintenance worker at its assembly plant here suffered a “devastating” injury involving a robot.

New technology allows assemblers and machines to work closer than ever.

BAUNATAL, Germany—A robot accidentally killed a worker at Volkswagen’s automotive assembly plant here. The robot pressed the worker up against a metal plate, crushing his chest.

NORWICH, UK—The advent of collaborative robots on the assembly line is raising fresh safety questions for manufacturers. Here are some measures that engineers can take to avoid robot-related accidents.

Since the start of the Great Recession in 2008, many Tier 1 suppliers have either closed or downsized.

New safety rules and technology allow side-by-side workcells.

ATHENS, GA—Researchers at Georgia Tech are applying sensors to people’s arms to train robots to mimic, respond to, and even predict a person’s movements so that the two can work side-by-side more seamlessly.

CAMBRIDGE, MA—Researchers at the Massachussetts Institute of Technology have developed new technology to enable people and robots to safely work together side-by-side.