Sick’s RAS1200 offers better safety and precision

Photo by Sick AG

In respect of all claim costs at ports and terminals, 28% of bodily injury claim costs are related to lift trucks. The claims in connection with lift trucks are mostly related to collisions with objects (all kind of obstacles), overturning or hitting pedestrians. The reach stacker involves a very high safety risk caused by very flexible movements and a very limited view to the rear.

The requirements for driver assistance systems used at ports and terminals are stringent, as such systems have to be able to cope with the harsh environment and tough working conditions.

Acceptance for such systems require high system reliability, detection of all kinds of obstacles and low false alarm rates. The system must provide these features to be accepted by drivers so that it can be used for efficient risk reduction.

The Reach Stacker Assistance System (RAS1200) is an active, high-precision assistance system based on detection. The RAS1200 uses cutting-edge LMS111 laser measuring sensors combined with a controller and including a 5” display. These sensors feature high-speed sampling technology and support the evaluation of multiple echoes of a single pulse. This allows their use in all weather conditions – for example, dust, fog, rain, snow or sandstorms at ports elsewhere. It provides operator assistance in critical maneuvers while reversing. In case the reach stacker is approaching an obstacle and the distance is getting critical, RAS1200 alerts the operator automatically. It is not just an alarm, the system displays the obstacles’ relative position to the vehicle and supports corrective measures for the driver.

RAS as a laser-based system:

• works at day and night time
• has a huge field of view and covers the whole rear side of the stacker
• measures distances and analyzes automatically whether the situation is dangerous or not.
• And most importantly, the operator will be automatically warned. The operator does not have to watch the screen all the time and can focus on the task on hand.

An operator display shows accurately all relevant obstacles in object outline and in the corresponding warning zones. This allows the operator to see the remaining distance. RAS alerts the operator with an audible pre-alarm to raise attention. If a collision is imminent, the operator will be warned by an audible alarm to take corrective actions or stop the reach stacker. The system is designed for cost-effective retrofitting onto reach stacker, empty handler and top handler and allows further integration into fleet management systems.

For more information, please visit http://www.sick.com.

• CID: 3733