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Thanks to reversing alarms, cameras and detection systems, roads and job sites have become a lot safer in recent years. Yet there is always room for improvement. That is why at Brigade Electronics they are busy developing artificial intelligence. The Sidescan®Predict and the CAREYE® are great examples of this. The CAREYE® was recently awarded the CLEPA Award. Barry van Dam, sales manager at Brigade Electronics, talks more about the current developments in the market and how they are responding to them.
"Artificial intelligence is the future," Van Dam said. "Where normally human intelligence is needed, computers are taking over those tasks. Think of the developments around the self-driving car and truck. Sweden is already testing self-driving garbage trucks. It is all still in development and we expect it will be some time before we will see such vehicles on the road." On the other hand, artificial intelligence does apply very well and safely in reversing systems, among other things. Brigade's Sidescan®Predict is a good example of this. It is a first step toward artificial intelligence. The Sidescan®Predict does nothing but continuously collect and analyze data, such as distance and speed. This data is converted in real time into warning signals at the moment an accident is about to happen.
But how does this differ from already existing vehicle safety systems? After all, those also detect and warn. Van Dam: "The difference lies in the ultrasonic technology we used in this new system. Six sensors, with a range of 2.5 meters, are mounted on the passenger side of a vehicle. These sensors instantly turn the objects they detect in the vicinity into a sophisticated and reliable analysis. The system measures data such as speed, direction and acceleration, both of the vehicle and of the detected object. By distinguishing between stationary and moving objects, the Sidescan®Predict calculates the likelihood of a collision."
There are three phases of signaling. The first is "Moving object detected. This is indicated on the in-cab display by a yellow visual warning, with no sound signal. The second threat level is "Danger of collision. This occurs when, for example, a cyclist comes close to the truck or machine. The yellow light on the display comes on and there is an audible signal. The final step 'Predicted collision' is followed by a red alarm light and audible warning in high tone. This lets the driver or operator know that he must act quickly and appropriately to avoid a collision. "The Sidescan®Predict can be mounted on any vehicle with a minimum length of 5.2 meters. This makes it very interesting for trucks, coaches, garbage trucks, agricultural machinery, earth moving machinery, construction machinery and road building machinery, for example. By using the smart Sidescan®Predict detection system, many (near) accidents in traffic and during work are prevented."
Another application of artificial intelligence is the CAREYE® Safety Angle Turning Assistant. A major advantage of this self-seeking control system is that the number of false alerts is significantly less. "Most control systems do signal objects or people, but some of the signals are false alarms," Van Dam knows. "And the danger with false alarms is that at some point the driver can become less alert to a signal. In contrast, a self-seeking system like the CAREYE® Safety Angle Turning Assistant gives far fewer false alerts, thanks to artificial intelligence. The CAREYE® measures very accurately whether an accident is about to occur. This detection system continuously monitors the situation closely and alerts the driver or operator to avoid a possible collision. There is no unnecessary distraction by superfluous visible or audible alarm signals, but quick and clear feedback at those times when really quick action is needed to avoid a collision."
The system developed by Brigade is so reliable that it won the CLEPA Award in the Smart & Safe category. In ADAC performance tests, the CAREYE® performed very well, better than other similar advanced driver assistance systems on the market. In particular, the fact that it gives significantly fewer false alerts and that it provides clear and easy-to-understand visual feedback are seen as plus points. But also that it has fast reaction times for detecting people and objects. For the Brigade team, the CLEPA Award is something they are more than proud of. Van Dam: "We are constantly working to further improve our products wherever possible. Technology is moving fast and offers very nice opportunities for our market. We only bring products to market if we are convinced that they are fit for purpose. Before we launch something, we test the product in detail so that we can be sure that it also proves its added value in practice and for our customers."
The blind spot also has Brigade's full attention. Mirrors and single-picture cameras notwithstanding, even with these aids a driver cannot always see everything clearly. "After all, a driver cannot both pay attention to the road and look at the monitor or in the mirror. Before you have checked all the mirrors, you are already several meters ahead. That's why we developed the Backeye®360 systems. These are intelligent camera and monitor products to support low-speed maneuvering." Brigade's 360° technologies work with four ultra wide-angle cameras. These all cover a full side of the vehicle with an angle of view of more than 180 degrees. The cameras record the entire environment of the vehicle or machine, including all blind spots. "The driver is shown clear and bright images of the surroundings in real time on his monitor. The beauty of these systems is that they are suitable for almost any vehicle or machine, small and large."
Within the EU, vehicle safety legislation is being further tightened. This makes products like the CAREYE®, Sidescan®Predict and the Backeye®360 systems even more relevant. "Together with our customers, we look at which systems best suit the safety risks they face. We know our customers and have our own technical service that can be on site quickly when needed. And, not unimportant in these times, we have no delivery problems. Because we have everything in-house, we deliver quickly."
