How Verification Works¶
Not all registry entries are equal. The RRF's 4-tier verification system lets you understand exactly how much confidence to place in a robot's identity record.
| Tier | Icon | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | ⬜ | Community |
| Tier 2 | 🟡 | Verified |
| Tier 3 | 🔵 | Certified |
| Tier 4 | ✅ | Accredited |
⬜ Tier 1 — Community¶
What it means: Self-reported. Robot exists and was submitted by a real person. No independent vetting or cross-checking.
Who qualifies: Anyone. Submit a robot via the registry form and it immediately receives Community tier.
Trust level: Lowest. Do not rely on Community-tier records for safety-critical decisions.
How to get it: Automatic on submission. No additional steps required.
Requirements:
- Valid submission form
- Contact email
- Plausible manufacturer and model name
Use cases:
- Open-source hobby robots
- Research prototypes
- First-generation commercial robots establishing presence in the registry
🟡 Tier 2 — Verified¶
What it means: Basic verification: the manufacturer exists, the model is real, and the serial number has been cross-checked where possible.
Who qualifies: Any robot whose manufacturer can be independently confirmed as a real entity.
Trust level: Moderate. Manufacturer and model have been confirmed, but the specific robot unit has not been inspected.
How to get it: The RRF reviews the submission against public records and available manufacturer documentation.
Requirements:
- Manufacturer is a registered legal entity
- Model appears in manufacturer public records or product pages
- Serial number format is consistent with manufacturer's documented scheme
Use cases:
- Commercial robots from known manufacturers
- Robots used in regulated environments requiring documentation
- Insurance and procurement workflows
🔵 Tier 3 — Certified¶
What it means: The manufacturer organization itself has been verified by the RRF. All robots from this manufacturer automatically carry Certified verification.
Who qualifies: Robots from manufacturers that have gone through the RRF manufacturer verification program.
Trust level: High. The manufacturer has signed agreements with the RRF and takes responsibility for the accuracy of all registrations under their namespace.
How to get it: Manufacturer applies for RRF membership at Supporting Member tier. RRF verifies legal entity, reviews governance documents, and signs a data accuracy agreement.
Requirements:
- Manufacturer is an RRF Supporting Member
- Signed data accuracy agreement
- Designated registry contact at the manufacturer
- Manufacturer-issued serial numbers follow documented scheme
- RCAN §21 registry handshake recommended (RRN↔RURI canonical mapping)
Use cases:
- Robots deployed in enterprise environments
- Robots subject to EU AI Act registration requirements
- Robots used in safety-critical infrastructure
✅ Tier 4 — Accredited¶
What it means: Full conformance audit. The robot has passed the RCAN conformance test suite (L1/L2/L3/L4) and carries a signed conformance certificate.
Who qualifies: Robots that implement the RCAN protocol and have passed all four conformance levels.
Trust level: Highest. The robot's identity, communication protocol, reporting, and registry integration have all been independently audited.
How to get it: Robot owner runs the RCAN conformance test suite and submits results. RRF issues a signed certificate with a cryptographic root of trust.
Requirements:
- Must hold Certified tier
- Must pass RCAN L1 (Identity), L2 (Communication), L3 (Reporting), and L4 (Registry Integration) conformance tests
- RURI must be present and resolvable per RCAN §21 (Robot Registry Integration)
- RRN↔RURI ownership proof submitted per §21.3
- Certificate must be renewed annually or after major firmware updates
Use cases:
- Robots deployed in regulated environments requiring verifiable identity
- Swarm safety applications
- Robots subject to ISO/TC 299 compliance
- Insurance underwriting for autonomous systems
RCAN §21 — Robot Registry Integration¶
Certified and Accredited robots should implement the RCAN §21 registry handshake for canonical RRN↔RURI mapping and ownership proof. Required for Accredited tier.
Ready to register?¶
All new robots start at Community tier. Verification upgrades are requested after registration.