However, the digitalization of the construction industry is not only having a positive impact on the sustainability of construction machinery. It is also enhancing the automation and connectivity of technologies, which is having a measurable effect on their productivity.
With its new IoT solution SightIQ (IoT = Internet of Things), Continental is setting new standards for productivity management in quarries, mines and construction sites. SightIQ integrates all available data from mobile machines, vehicles and stationary equipment such as conveyors or tools in a cloud application, regardless of the manufacturer. The IoT suite can be expanded to include other digital solutions from Continental, such as Conti+ for intelligent conveyor management or ContiConnect, a solution for safe and efficient tire management. In developing this innovative solution, Continental drew on its cross-industry expertise.
The images taken by four cameras with HDR (High Dynamic Range) and a resolution of 1.3 megapixels with a viewing angle of up to 194 degrees are combined in the control unit. This is achieved using a complex algorithm to create a perfect view of the vehicle from a bird’s eye perspective.
New features – specially developed for construction sites and mining – have now been added to this 360-degree view. For example, Continental’s Special Vehicle experts have now developed a feature for construction machinery – Worker Detection. It’s based on the passenger car development team’s work on the City Emergency Brake Assist. With the help of an algorithm specially adapted to the confusing conditions of a construction site, persons who are near the construction machine can be detected, preventing accidents and collisions. In collaboration with a large OEM, this algorithm was “taught” the specific differences between a road scenario and the situation on a construction site: stones, gravel and sand instead of smooth, gray asphalt surfaces; metal parts, concrete blocks and wooden pallets instead of clear lanes; persons in bulky overalls, helmets and fluttering high-visibility vests instead of contrasting outlines that are easily distinguishable from the background. As a result, the ProViu 360 system can detect persons located close to the machine, which tells the operator that he or she should on no account set the vehicle or machine in motion.
The latest feature of ProViu 360 is a software function that is particularly helpful for the industrialization of machines manufactured in small production runs. Autocalibration significantly shortens the implementation time for ProViu camera systems in production. Instead of requiring manual calibration of the ProViu camera system for optimal visibility, a software algorithm detects a pattern around the vehicle. It determines the best calibration settings for each vehicle within seconds, reducing calibration time by several minutes per vehicle. The Autocalibration function also guarantees repeatable results.
