ifm’s collision warning system for mobile machines is providing piece of mind to waste operators through automated collision avoidance.
The waste industry is increasingly looking towards technology to improve safety and drive operational efficiency.
With this in mind, ifm has developed a next generation 3D collision warning system to increase the automation level of mobile machines.
Designed to improve the safety of roads, ifm’s collision warning system is based on ifm’s established 3 dimensional sensing technology. The system precisely detects obstacles and visualises them in a 2D image on a monitor. This keeps drivers informed about the trigger of the alarm and the area to be monitored at all times.
According to an ifm spokesperson, drivers of heavy municipal waste vehicles can feel more at ease when operating their trucks, knowing that ifm’s 3D collision avoidance system is at work.
“Haul trucks, refuse trucks, baggage loaders and road building machines are also using this technology for obstacle detection,” the spokesperson says.
“ifm offers an assistant with the O3M sensor, which works as an extra set of eyes to assist the machine operator. It can see blind spots, even if the operator has not seen an object or person in the mirrors and video display, ifm’s sensors can react to those objects and people.”
The active obstacle detection monitors danger zones around the vehicle and warns the driver of imminent collisions in good time.
For this purpose, a tried-and-tested 3D optical time-of-flight system from ifm is used, which reduces false alarms to a minimum thanks to a sophisticated algorithm. Warnings are provided visually, acoustically and in the form of icons via the supplied 7-inch monitor.
The collision system is used in waste disposal vehicles for automatic recognition of dangerous situations.
Waste trucks can be fitted with ifm’s 3D sensor with video overlay, which displays an image of the vehicle’s surroundings on a hi-res screen to the operator. This gives warning to the driver if an object comes within a set parameter of the vehicle.
“The machine can also be configured to automatically apply the braking system if the driver fails to react in time,” the spokesperson says.
“Improving driver and human safety can also reduce expenditure on legal and insurance costs. The aim is reducing risk to people and property, but there is also damage to brand and reputation if an accident occurs.”
The 3D sensors are suitable for robust applications in indoor and outdoor areas. The O3M has a high protection rating against water and dust ingress and a wide temperature range of -40°c to 85°c. It is also able to handle shock and vibration, which is well suited to the high demands of the Australian environment, meeting all requirements for use on mobile machines.
The collision warning system package includes all the components to set up a fully functioning collision warning system on a mobile machine.
ifm’s collision avoidance package helps not only pedestrians, but also the drivers and crew who frequently moving about the vehicle.
“ifm is leading the market for Anti Collision Systems on waste trucks in Germany, with approximately 60 systems on order each month to retrofit garbage trucks,” ifm says.
“The new normal will be to see these systems as a standard option in production on all waste trucks going forward in Germany, Australia and world over.”
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