A smart braking system developed by Liebherr for its wheel loaders will help reduce the risk of workplace accidents, the manufacturer says
Liebherr is building on a pedestrian detection system developed for its wheel loaders, with new technology it says will help slash the risk of workplace accidents.
Already installed across Liebherr’s L 526 to L 586 XPower range of wheel loaders, the active personnel detection system alerts the machine operator if there is a danger in the wheel loader’s rear area.
Using smart sensors, the system sounds a specific warning if there are people in the rear area of the wheel loader, at a greater distance than for walls, columns or other vehicles.
Now Liebherr has added a brake assistant function to the detection system, stopping the vehicle if it detects a person is standing behind it.
“Statistically speaking, accidents with wheel loaders occur most frequently when the machine operator reverses after a loading process,” Liebherr says.
“This reverse travel is particularly risky if people are located in the wheel loader’s operating area.”
Liebherr says wheel loader slows down “to a standstill” when a source of danger is identified – using the wheel loader’s hydrostatic components to ensure that the service brake can also be used in the normal way.
“The braking process is therefore initiated at an earlier stage and quicker than in the case of traditional braking since, with the brake assistant, there is no delay caused by human reaction time,” Liebherr says.
The company has also introduced a second new function, an incident map, which records every time a warning signal is issued and maps it through LiDAT, Liebherr’s in-house transfer and location system.
This data is used to develop a Google map that notes the GPS points where the incidents occurred, ultimately producing an incident map displaying the risk zones and potential sources of danger on the site.
Liebherr says the operator can use this information to better plan for accident prevention.
“For example, the operator might reroute footpaths, cordon off areas and alter dangerous work sequences,” Liebherr says.
“The head of operations can use the incident map to train employees and make them aware of risky situations.”
The systems can be retrofitted to Liebherr wheel loaders that already have the first version of the active personnel detection, the company has confirmed.