Take Off the Training Wheels and Put on AI
The industrial industry has been making strides with forklift safety technology adoption. Industrial companies have been integrating automation and other types of advanced technologies into their warehouse, distribution center and manufacturing operations. But has the forklift safety technology adoption been embraced? Let’s discuss the topic of forklift safety technology adoption a bit further.
How has Forklift Safety Technology Adoption Grown?
As operations professionals began to evaluate the forklift safety technology adoption plan, they took a look at what was currently available. This includes, horns, seat belts, flashing blue lights and guards. Although these are great ways to be safe, it has maxed out its ability to prevent accidents and avoid damages. It has done its best and now new technologies need to be adopted in order to bring the number as close to zero as possible.
RFID Technologies are Good, But There is Better
To help protect the forklift and the people around it, RFID technologies were offered in the marketplace. It was received ‘warmly’ as many companies did not apply the technology to their facilities. Some of the reasons are the cost per area, meaning that RFID technologies was installed only in the areas that are busy. There are other challenges with the forklift safety technology adoption. This includes needing to put on a wearable, limited space where the technology works, the lack of identification of a person vs an object to name a few. Where can a company go from here?
Sensors on a Forklift
Sensors on a forklift are a great way for forklift safety technology to be adopted into the safety plan. However, not all sensors are the same. SIERA.AI sensors scan the pre-defined area every 60ms searching for both objects and pedestrians. Pre-defined area means that the safety professional can set how far the scanning is to go. So if the safety professional wants to scan 5.5 feet, 10 feet, 25 feet, SIERA.AI can go all the way up to 33 feet. Hopefully, you will not need to go 33 feet as that’s a long distance. However, if you do need it, we’re in!
AI or Artificial Intelligence
Technology has continued to evolve moving from the RFID scenario to a more robust solution with AI in the forklift safety system. The AI brings the intelligence needed in order to identify the obstacle in the path of the forklift. As the information comes through the sensors, AI begins to analyze what the sensors ‘see’. Based on the Machine Learning and AI together, it will begin to identify what is within the forklift’s path. Is it an object or a person. That’s the question that it is answering. It then delivers the answer to the forklift operator by giving the driver a symbol of a box for an object, or a symbol of a person for a human. Along with the symbols, flashing lights work to alert the operator. Once that determination is made, the driver can take action to ensure safety.
Partial Detection of a Human
It is also imperative that the technology can also detect a partial human. If a person is bending over the load, and all you can see is a foot, or two fingers, the AI is going to notify the operator that a HUMAN is there, not boxes. This will allow the forklift driver to review its surroundings to ensure safety for all. Otherwise, the forks will come out and injure or kill the person behind it.
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Contact us today at sales@siera.ai or call us at (512) 817 0702.