Automation and robotization of production as well as increasing requirements regarding the safety of machines set ever higher requirements for ensuring the safety of operators and persons in direct contact with machines. One of the methods that allows them to guarantee them are laser security scanners . The WObit company offers proven equipment from the Japanese company Hokuyo.
Principle of operation and properties
Laser space scanners use the time-flight method (Time of Flight) to distance measurement, which allows you to calculate the time needed to return the light beam sent, after reflecting from any object within the scanning range of 0 - 270 °.
WObit's offer includes the most modern models of Hokuyo laser scaners of production space , also recently with the safety function. They enable, among others recognizing objects and determining the distance to the detected obstacle. For different models of scanners, the measuring distance is from 4 to 30 meters with a maximum scan angle of 190 ° to 270 °. The accuracy offered by these devices is up to 10 mm over a distance of four meters. Scanners are also characterized by a lot of speed of action. The time of performing one scan, for example for a sensor UTM-30LX working at a distance of 30 meters, is only 25 ms. Depending on the model, communication interfaces such as Ethernet, USB and RS232 are available.
One of the newer models - UXM-30LX-EW has been additionally equipped with technology of multiple echoes. It allows receiving repeatedly reflected waves of one pulse emitted by the transmitter. As a result, reliable measurement results can be obtained even in such unfavorable conditions as rain, fog, rust or dust. All laser scanners also have a high degree of protection IP67. | %20for%20messe.jpg) |
The range of application of the laser scanners presented above is extremely wide. Thanks to such functions as object recognition, determining the distance from the obstacle and determining the trajectory of movement or location of the object based on landmarks, they will prove to be effective, among others in storage systems with automatic internal transport. An important area of â??â??application are AGV mobile works .
Scanners for mobile and AGV robots
Implementation of laser scanners on self-propelled rides allows you to increase the precision of the equipment, and thus the collision-free approach, and to eliminate the destruction of transferred and stored products. After proper programming, when the scanner detects an obstacle (eg a machine operator) on the route of the truck, it sends a signal to the PLC that triggers a safety signal that will stop the truck by switching off the power or activating the brake. A new family of security scanners from the UAM series is intended for this type of application. UAM-02LP security scanner is intended for securing areas near the production lines and to monitor the pancakes of vehicles. This model has a scanning angle of 190 ° and a scanning frequency of 33 scans / second. The software has the option of configuring security zones (up to two meters) and a ten-meter warning area.
 | The latest UAM-05LP model has the possibility of setting up as many as five meters protection zone and a twenty-meter warning area. Thanks to the large scanning angle of up to 270 ° with one device, you can control the area in many applications. Intuitive software allows the user to easily configure simple or complex protection and warning zones (up to 32 programmable areas that can be configured with the help of microUSB) to meet the application requirements. |
The configuration data can be saved on the SD card and used to set the device parameters without having to be connected to the PC. The measured data is sent via Ethernet. The scanner also has an encoder input, especially useful in applications with AGV robots. It allows you to monitor and change the robot's speed depending on the zone and to stop the robot in the event of a threat or impassable route. The device has a compact housing cast under 80 mm x 80 mm x 95 mm aluminum pressure.
The UAM-05LP scanner has a dual protection mode, which means that you can protect two dangerous areas at the same time. Separate OSSD signals are triggered for the corresponding zone, thanks to which you can secure two machines with one UAM scanner. The Master / Slave function allows you to connect up to four scanners in one network and manage all devices with a single scanner. This is especially useful when there is a need to protect a larger machine that poses a serious threat to the operator. In the case of violation of the protective field, the scanner mounted on dangerous stationary machines switches off the devices by switching the output signal (OSSD).
UAM security scanners are used, among others in AGV works produced by the WObit company. The scanners used are an ideal solution to maximize security, maintain compact dimensions of the device and prevent any potential hazardous situations in the industry. It is worth noting that security scanners possess the SIL 2 safety certificate, meet the IEC61496-1 / 3 type 3 and ISO13849 PL standard d Category 3.
Other uses
In addition to AGV robots important areas for the use of this product group are also industry and production automation. Laser space scanners can play an important role in a variety of applications, thanks to the possibility of dynamically determining the dimensions of the object and the number of objects within the range of the laser beam. Another popular place for the use of Hokuyo laser scanners is mobile robotics, where they can serve, for example, to determine the trajectory of motion or location of a robot based on landmarks.
