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Safety in heavy-duty industries has surged ahead in 2016 thanks to new innovations and technologies that have taken collision mitigation to the most advanced level yet. As our understanding of collisions and how to avoid them deepens, this momentum will continue with the goal of saving as many lives as possible.

Recently, we’ve seen higher levels of technological sophistication in the autonomous applications of U.S. Army tactical vehicles. Over the course of the next decade, the Army predicts that assistant drivers will no longer be needed in manned war vehicles, and only a few years beyond that the main driver will also be able to stay behind on missions. Imagine the lives that will be saved on the battlefields.

Camera/monitor systems are an extremely useful technology, but it is important to recognize their limitations as a stand-alone solution for object detection.

Back-up cameras serve to reduce blind zones in reversing cars by 90 percent, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Considering that 94% of new cars on the market today have back-up cameras, that’s a lot of backwards visibility gained.

Every piece of heavy-duty equipment is different. Designed for specific, and usually logistically complicated tasks, no one-size-fits-all safety package works for every equipment type. By accounting for all of the unique variables associated with a wide range of heavy equipment, object detection systems can fill in the gaps and blind spots in safety practices over a wide range of industries. By integrating radar with other active and passive technologies, the ultimate collision mitigation safety solution comes into focus.

How does it work? PRECO's Tom Loutzenheiser recently gave a forward-thinking explanation to that question in the Idaho Business Review:

“If you look at any of the autonomous vehicles, whether cars or mining trucks, they all have lots of different sensors. There’s this concept called sensor fusion, where you work together to make a smarter vehicle. The human analogy is you have a sense of touch, a sense of smell, eyesight and ears, they all contribute to you being a safe navigator of the world. There’s the same analogy in autonomy. There are multiple sensors coming into play.”

They never take shift breaks. They do the dirty work. They face endless, brutal hazards. Driverless vehicles are on the scene in mining operations around the world and, in an industry that’s remained largely unchanged for the past 30 years, the big question looms, “How will this affect us?” Followed by the immediate concern, “Is it safe?”

First though, how do autonomous vehicles actually work? Under the hood of driverless heavy-duty fleets, you’ll find a combination of sensors, typically using radar and GPS to navigate. The GPS plots the course and mission of the vehicle. For mining operations, unmanned equipment typically moves around a pre-defined course—streamlining rigorous, tedious mining tasks like dumping and loading.

 By May 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will require rear visibility technology in all new vehicles under 10,000 pounds, including buses and over the road trucks. This field of view must include a 10-foot by 20-foot zone directly behind the vehicle. Let’s take a look at what prompted this forward thinking change in safety regulation.

Once an accident has occurred, you can’t go back. The simple act of backing up a vehicle can turn tragic in a matter of seconds. But these common accidents can be avoided by utilizing a combination of safety technologies available today.

Preco Electronics is pleased to announce an OEM partnership with Kawasaki-KCM Wheel Loaders. 

Under the terms of the partnership, Preco’s PreView® Radar object detection system is now immediately available for customers to purchase across KCMA’s Wheel Loader lineup. Kawasaki KCMA’s customers who purchase this option will benefit from Preco’s fully integrated active safety solution with rear blind zone coverage and in-cab audible and visual cues to the equipment operator.

Preco has taken a number of steps over the past several months to better represent its leadership in the evolving collision mitigation market. Preco’s suite of solutions continues to save lives and play a critical role in the industry’s adoption of ADAS and/or telematics.  

Risk is inherent to any business. In the heavy-duty industry, risk is associated with loss of life and accidents. As safety technologies continue to evolve, we are seeing exciting new innovations that enhance the ability to mitigate risk at the operator level and at the worksite.

In a larger editorial piece published September 1st on the Aggregates and Mining Today news site, Preco’s President and CEO Jim Bean outlines the value of adopting strong safety practices and the latest technologies developed to mitigate risk.