controllers on hand since not all mats are compatible with all controllers.
These issues can be addressed by using safety laser scanners.
Safety laser scanners are not based on mechanical switches; they are electronic devices that can be adjusted for various application needs. Safety laser scanners are a non- contact technology that use an infrared (IR) laser to scan the surroundings in two dimensions. They emit short pulses of IR light. If a pulse of light strikes an object, it’s reflected to the scanner. The distance to the object can be determined with a high degree of accuracy based on the time interval between the moment of transmission and the time the reflected light returns. The ability to determine the distance to obstacles enables safety laser scanners to establish a series of warning and protective fields based on the nearness of an object. Some safety laser scanners can have dozens of defined fields. That can be useful for applications like navigation for an autonomous mobile robot. The S300 Mini Standard safety laser scanners from SICK are optimized for safety applications that need three defined fields — a protective field and two warning fields — to be active simultaneously. Their compact dimensions of 102 x 116 x 105
Figure 2: Size comparison of the S30 Mini Standard safety laser scanner and a soda can. (Image source: SICK)
millimeters (mm) (w x h x d) make them suitable for applications like robotic work cells and automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) (Figure 2). S300 Mini Standard scanners have a 270° scan angle to cover a wide area and a selectable resolution for hand, leg, or body detection. These scanners support warning field ranges up to 8 m and are available with three maximum protective field ranges:
from configurable safety laser scanners. The detection zones can be modified as needed to suit changing protection needs. Setting multiple warning fields can be especially useful for preventing people from getting too close and shutting down a machine. The warning signal devices can include a simple flashing light if the first warning field is breached and a warning siren or horn if the second warning field is entered. There are specific rules for calculating the size of protection fields. Safety distance calculations ISO Standard 13855, “Safety of machinery – Positioning of safeguards with respect to the approach of the human body , includes guidelines for calculating
■ One meter, model 1058000
■ Two meters, model 1050932
■ Three meters, model 1056430
Dynamic environments
Dynamic environments, where the layout or operational conditions change or where AGVs move around, can benefit
we get technical
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