Industrial companies are willing to deploy autonomous moving machines (AMM) across different application scenarios to be aligned with the Vision Zero of the International Social Security Association on Prevention in the Mining Society. As the area of machine operation can typically not be separated from on-foot workers, the AMMs has to detect it and react autonomously to avoid collisions. Today’s available safety systems like laser scanners and cameras can only be applied reliably in clean environments, failing in outdoors scenarios due to the harsh operational conditions and highly dynamic changing working environment.
Comnovo markets D2SENSE (distance to sense) proximity system since March 2013, a radio-based ranging system, able to address the challenging outdoor environments and detecting pedestrians also behind obstacles, independently from weather conditions or dust contamination. The system is today designed as a driver assistance system, requiring the driver interaction to reduce speed or stop the vehicle.
In order to generate control signals for deploying autonomous moving machines, a performance level (PL) according to the EN ISO 13849 specification is required. The requirements are high, as severe accidents need to be avoided. Hence, a high PL of level D is needed for the application, which can only be achieved by a combination of two highly reliable human being detection systems.
The first phase of SAFETY4WORKERS explored and assessed the technical feasibility and commercial potential of the breakthrough innovation of incorporate the Performance Level into wireless safety personnel equipment, providing significant progress in safety at work, introducing a novel concept of sensor technologies for the control of autonomous moving machines. During this phase, Comnovo built up strategical relationships with two launch customers. The respective use-cases were carried out successfully. Focused on market-segments that have been in search for an adequate problem-solving solution, the Comnovo warning systems can be characterized as innovative products for human-related collision-prevention. In further development-cycles the integration into OEMs will be pursued. Thus, by funding in phase II of the Horizon 2020 project, the upscaling phase of the D2Sense-product and the international market entry of the new SAFETY4WORKERS technology will become possible, which will create further jobs in the field of F&E, sales and services, as well as production facilities.
