SLOW SPEED OBJECT DETECTION FOR HAUL TRUCKS--Caterpillar integrates radar technology with its current camera-based system

摘要

Caterpillar has developed the Integrated Object Detection System, a slow speed object detection system for mining haul trucks. Object detection is a system that aids the truck operator's awareness of their surroundings. The system consists of a color touch screen display along with medium- and short-range radar as well as cameras, harnesses and mounting hardware. It's integrated into the truck's Work Area Vision System (WAVS). Recently Caterpillar conducted research that revealed some interesting information about their customers and collisions on site. "We surveyed customers and, when looking at safety on mine sites, found that slow speed object detection was high on their priority list," said Mark Richards, marketing supervisor-large mining trucks, Caterpillar. "Research also showed that 79 percent of collisions at mine sites involve large trucks. That's not surprising, considering that the truck fleet represents the majority of the vehicles on site and they tend to move about more than loaders or dozers." Of the haul truck collisions, 59 percent involve another piece of mobile equipment, 38 percent are immobile objects, and 3 percent are people, Richards explained. Most people on mine sites are usually in vehicles, so it's rare that a person would be standing in the path of a haul truck.