Challenge
The Italian company, Elettric 80, is a global supplier of system solutions for packing technology and intralogistics. In the LGV (Laser Guided Vehicle) sector, Elettric 80 was searching for a new vehicle protection system which guaranteed maximum reliability. As such, the company required a development partner which could provide the right safety solution. The 360° protection of a fully-automatic, three-wheeled forklift truck required a complete solution which not only offered the correct sensor technology for the intended function, but was also specifically designed to take into account economic efficiency in procurement, integration and operation. The specifications included an option for central configuration and diagnostics, quick replacement of components in case of failure without the need to reprogram, reduced wiring times and minimum space requirements in the control cabinet. At the same time, the aim was to develop a standardized, modular safety concept which could be flexibly adapted for all LGV variants. SICK was able to complete this automation and technical safety challenge successfully.
Application Solution
Based on these specifications, Elettric 80 and SICK have developed a solution which meets all the requirements given. It consists of two safety laser scanners (S300) which monitor the rear and side vehicle areas, a further safety laser scanner (S3000) for protecting the vehicle routes and the area below the load carrier, and a safety controller (Flexi Soft). All the components have SICK-specific interfaces which enable the devices to communicate with each other directly and safely. While a scanner safely monitors the vehicle’s path in the direction of travel and in docking areas, the other two devices are used to monitor the entire rear and side areas. The scanners are connected to the flexible configurable Flexi Soft, which communicates with the sensors via the CAN bus-based EFI (Enhanced Functional Interface). Its modular hardware also makes it much simpler to project safety system solutions for Elettric 80.
Benefits
- Protection for automatic guided vehicles which complies to directives and standards
- Networked, integration-friendly safety solution
- Can be flexibly adapted to other vehicle types and applications
- Sensors, control technology and service from a single source guarantees risk-free integration by using safe laser scanners and control technology
Elettric 80 can rely on protection for automatic guided vehicles which complies with directives and standards. The networking of selected safety laser scanners and a configurable safety controller is highly scalable. As all the scanners can be configured and diagnosed centrally the wiring times and the risk of wiring errors are kept to a minimum. Thanks to the openness of the solution, it is also possible to connect further additional safety sensors – even after initial installation. Overall, this solution is currently the only one of its kind in the world, suitable for all Elettric 80 LGVs. “SICK was the only supplier capable of solving the task on its own, drawing on the entire product portfolio,” says Franco Manzini from Elettric 80. “This allowed us to obtain the sensor and control components from a single source, thus minimizing any interfacing risks.”
This is an application from SICK.
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