Can a Forklift Safety System Detect Part of the Human Body?

Human body detection in safety is what forklift pedestrian detection is all about. It’s critical that when the two are within the same space, that there must be a way to let one or the other know that they are too close. That’s great if the person standing or walking in full view. But what happens if the person is bending down? Better yet, what if the person had to bend down and their arm, head or foot was the only thing sticking out? We all know that human body detection in safety is important. But can it detect only part of the human body?

What is Human Body Detection in Safety?

Let’s first make sure that we are on the same page with what human body detection in safety is all about. Depending on the originator of the forklift safety system, technologies perform human body detection in safety differently. For the discussion of this topic, we’ll be discussing it from the AI or Artificial Intelligence with machine learning perspective.

When SIERA.AI’s S3 Pedestrian Detection System scans for the human body, the sensor reads to a pre-defined distance set by you the manager. As the information comes into the main ‘brain’ of the forklift safety system, it has already learned what is a human and what is an object. If the system intelligence says it’s a human, it will provide the warning to the forklift driver that a human is within a warning or danger distance.

But What If the Worker is Working?

Let’s be honest, do you always see the workers standing all of the time? Does anything drop? Does anything need to be put away that’s low? Of course! How are other forklift safety systems detecting workers that are bent over, crouched down, on all fours cleaning something up? Have you asked?

Partial Human Detection

This is where SIERA.AI took human body detection in safety to the next level with partial human detection. Let’s take a look at a few examples:

• Worker is on all fours cleaning up a spill.
• Worker is bent over piling boxes and is partially under the racking system. Only their backside is showing.
• Worker bent down behind boxes in the aisle and their arm or bottom is the only thing showing.
• The worker is on all fours behind boxes and the foot is sticking out
• The worker squatted down and all that is showing from behind is his head.

If keeping workers safe is a priority for you and your company, then partial human detection is a ‘must have’ for your pedestrian detection system solution.

Object Detection Too!

Let’s not forget that lots of money is spent on fixing other equipment or the facility itself from forklift accidents. SIERA.AI took its forklift safety system and not only allowed for the detection of partial limbs or body parts, but also said it’s important to identify when something is an object too.

As the forklift scans and take the information to the ‘brains’ of the system, it will inform the driver if whatever is within its defined bath a person or an object. It communicates to the driver by giving a loud audio warning sound, and at the same time provide a flashing symbol of either a person or object. Now the driver has all the information he needs to stop the machine.

What’s Next?

Take a look at our videos to watch for yourself how it works. Then, contact us at sales@siera.ai to discuss what’s going on in your facility.