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Use Case

COLLISION AWARENESS & AVOIDANCE

Automatically identify potential collisions with real-time ranging technology to enhance workplace safety. Protect your team by prioritizing a safety-first approach that safeguards the health and well-being of your organization’s greatest asset—its people.

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Maximizing Workplace Safety Through Real-Time Collision Awareness Technology

In today’s industrial environments, worker safety is critical, especially in high-risk sectors like mining, manufacturing, and warehousing. While Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) are useful for post-incident analysis, they are typically too slow for real-time collision prevention due to the reliance on server infrastructure and data processing delays. In contrast, Inpixon’s Collision Awareness Solutions (CAS) leverage Peer-to-Peer Ranging (P2P) technology, enabling fast, direct communication between vehicles and personnel without the need for complex infrastructure or servers.

Each vehicle and individual is equipped with a tag, allowing for real-time proximity measurements. When a threshold distance is breached, alarms are triggered, and—through seamless integration with existing vehicle systems—our CAS solutions can automatically modulate speed or apply braking when danger is detected. This rapid-response capability ensures accidents are prevented in dynamic environments, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

Beyond prevention, RTLS still plays a vital role in forensic analysis after an incident, helping reconstruct events and validate safety protocols. By combining the advantages of real-time P2P ranging with post-incident RTLS analysis, Inpixon offers a comprehensive approach to collision awareness and safety improvement. Discover how Inpixon’s solutions can transform your workplace into a safer, more efficient environment.

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Benefits of Ranging for Collision Awareness

  • Safety and Risk Mitigation
    • Early Hazard Detection: Real-time alerts enable proactive risk mitigation by identifying potential hazards early, helping to prevent accidents.
    • Reduced Collision Risk: Precise vehicle-to-person and vehicle-to-vehicle ranging capabilities effectively minimize the risk of collisions in dynamic environments.
    • Enhanced Situational Awareness: Intelligent, direction-sensitive alarms improve situational awareness and support accident prevention.
  • Efficiency and Productivity
    • Improved Responsiveness: Seamless integration with existing vehicle systems allows for automatic adjustments, such as slowing down or accelerating, enhancing responsiveness in critical situations.
    • Reduced Downtime: By preventing collisions and accidents, operational interruptions are minimized, leading to increased productivity.
    • Reduced Costs: By minimizing accidents and damage to vehicles and goods, overall operational costs are significantly lowered.
    • Minimal Infrastructure Dependency: Cost-effective and straightforward, these solutions require minimal infrastructure, making implementation easier and more affordable.
  • Compliance and Accident Analysis
    • Enhanced Accident Prevention: Forensic analysis, supported by precise tracking and alarm data, helps prevent future incidents.
    • Compliance with Safety Regulations: Detailed incident reporting and continuous location monitoring ensure adherence to safety standards.
    • Achieve Compliance Standards: Meets compliance standards with regulations like CAS Level 9 and more, ensuring your operations are always compliant.

Example Uses of
Collision Awareness & Avoidance

  • Forklift Collision Prevention

    In warehouse environments, Inpixon's technology helps prevent forklift collisions by providing real-time alerts to drivers. The system activates visual and acoustic warnings as vehicles approach obstacles, and can optionally automatically slow down or disable the forklift to avoid accidents.
  • Worker and Vehicle Safety in Hazardous Areas
    In mining settings, Inpixon’s technology enhances safety by issuing proximity warnings when vehicles or personnel are at risk of collision. The system provides varying alarm levels based on the proximity of approaching assets, personnel, or vehicles. In addition, when integrated into vehicle systems, machines can be automatically slowed down or stopped to prevent accidents and create a safer working environment. The system’s reaction time, combined with user response, determines the braking distance, which adjusts according to the maximum speed of vehicles or moving assets.
  • Pedestrian Safety in High-Traffic Areas

    Inpixon’s technology enhances pedestrian safety in busy warehouse or manufacturing settings by using distance measurement to monitor the proximity between vehicles and pedestrians. As a vehicle approaches a pedestrian, the system triggers warning signals directly within the vehicle, alerting the driver to the presence of people in the area. This real-time alert system, which varies alarm intensity based on the closing distance, helps prevent collisions and ensures that both vehicle operators and pedestrians remain safe in high-traffic zones.

How Collision Awareness Works with Inpixon

Inpixon’s RF technology enhances safety in environments like manufacturing, warehousing, and mining. Workers wear wristbands using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) or Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) to communicate directly with vehicles. The system detects proximity and triggers warnings—red lights for proximity and alarms for immediate danger. It can also integrate with vehicle controls to slow or stop vehicles if necessary.

Additionally, when combined with an RTLS, the system tracks worker locations to prevent entry into hazardous areas, triggering safety measures or alerts. This tracking also aids post-incident analysis by providing movement data for improving safety protocols.

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Collision Awareness Building Blocks

Inpixon's Collision Awareness Solutions are designed to seamlessly integrate into your existing operations, offering precise and reliable protection where it matters most. Using Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) or Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology for ranging, our system delivers real-time feedback to prevent collisions in dynamic environments like manufacturing, warehousing, and mining. 

These technologies provide real-time proximity detection and peer-to-peer communication, allowing vehicles, workers, and equipment to interact seamlessly. As vehicles approach objects or personnel, the system triggers visual and acoustic alerts to notify operators, minimizing collision risks.

For enhanced functionality, you can integrate tracking capabilities into the existing ranging infrastructure. By repurposing the same radio signals used for collision avoidance, real-time location tracking (RTLS) can be deployed across your facility. This allows for continuous monitoring of people, assets, and vehicles, ensuring they remain within safe zones.

Here’s how our building blocks come together to enhance safety:

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    Inpixon Swarm Chirp V3

    The Inpixon Swarm Chirp is a 2.4 GHz chirp transceiver module that seamlessly integrates into custom RTLS devices, enabling long-range RTLS applications capable of a range up to 1,000 meters, far exceeding the 300-500 range of traditional applications. Built with Inpixon nanoLOC, the Inpixon Swarm Chirp module delivers low-power consumption and a compact form factor with additional embedded sensors that provide 3D acceleration and temperature readings.

  • Inpixon Swarm UWB

    Inpixon Swarm UWB V3

    The Inpixon Swarm UWB is an ultra-wideband transceiver module that seamlessly integrates into custom RTLS devices, enabling precise RTLS applications capable of +/- 40 cm location accuracy. Built with Decawave UWB technology, the Inpixon Swarm UWB delivers low-power consumption and a compact form factor with additional embedded sensors that provide 3D acceleration and temperature readings.

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    Inpixon nanoLOC Chip

    The Inpixon nanoLOC transceiver is a low-power, highly integrated mixed signal chip. This 2.4 GHz long range Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) transceiver transmits and receives wireless data packets for robust wireless communication, ranging capabilities and RTLS. Supporting a freely adjustable center frequency with three non-overlapping frequency channels, Inpixon nanoLOC enables multiple physically independent networks and improved coexistence with existing 2.4 GHz wireless technologies.

Collision Awareness System FAQ

  • What is Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, and how do they relate to collision awareness?

    Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) are both wireless communication technologies used in ranging systems to measure distances between objects, making them crucial for collision avoidance applications.

    • Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) is a long-range radio-frequency technology that excels in environments where coverage over large areas is required. It transmits signals using "chirps" over a wide frequency band, which helps it maintain strong resistance to interference, even in noisy environments like industrial facilities. CSS is well-suited for real-time distance monitoring between vehicles, personnel, and assets, offering reliable collision prevention in wide-open or harsh environments.
    • Ultra-Wideband (UWB), on the other hand, is a short-range technology known for its high precision. UWB operates by sending short pulses over an ultra-wide frequency range, allowing for incredibly accurate distance measurement with nanosecond-level precision. This makes UWB ideal for detailed proximity detection in dense environments where pinpoint accuracy is critical.

    Both CSS and UWB enable time of flight (ToF) measurements, where the time it takes for a signal to travel between two objects is used to calculate distance. In collision awareness systems, these technologies provide real-time feedback to alert operators of potential hazards and enable automated safety measures like slowing or stopping vehicles to prevent accidents.

    While CSS is advantageous for long-range, large-area monitoring with strong interference resistance, UWB shines in scenarios where precise, short-ranging is required. Depending on the specific needs of the environment, either technology can be deployed to enhance workplace safety and prevent collisions.

  • How does the two-way ranging system work in preventing collisions?

    The two-way ranging system involves tags attached to vehicles, personnel, or assets that communicate with each other. When an object or person comes within a critical distance, the system calculates the proximity and triggers alerts or actions, such as slowing down or stopping a vehicle, to prevent collisions.

  • What types of alerts are provided by the collision avoidance system?

    The system provides both visual and acoustic alerts. Vehicles are equipped with alarm lamps and loudspeakers that activate when a potential collision is detected. The intensity of these alerts can vary depending on the proximity of the detected object or person.

  • Can the system automatically control vehicle actions to prevent collisions?

    Yes, the system can integrate with vehicle controls, such as Vehicle Management Systems (VMS), Fleet Management Systems (FMS), or Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), to automatically slow down or stop the vehicle when a collision risk is detected. This automatic intervention enhances safety by proactively reducing the likelihood of accidents in high-risk situations.

  • Do I need a complex platform to implement this collision avoidance technology?
    No, this collision avoidance solution is designed to operate effectively as a standalone system. It does not require integration with a broader platform, making it easy to implement and maintain within your existing operations.
  • How do tracking and ranging technologies complement each other?

    Tracking and ranging technologies work together by combining comprehensive location data with instant distance feedback. Real-time location systems (RTLS) provide continuous monitoring and analysis, while ranging offers immediate feedback for collision awareness. This combined approach ensures a safe and efficient working environment by enabling long-term monitoring and immediate accident prevention, ideal for protecting workers, preventing vehicle collisions, and implementing automated safety responses.

  • How does a Collision Awareness System improve safety in warehouse environments?

    A Collision Awareness System enhances warehouse safety by providing real-time alerts and notifications to prevent collisions between vehicles, equipment, and personnel. By offering advanced proximity detection and accurate tracking capabilities, the system minimizes the risk of accidents and ensures a secure working environment.

  • Can a Collision Awareness System be customized for industry requirements, such as mining operations?
    Yes, Collision Awareness Systems can be tailored to meet the unique needs of different industries, including mining. Customizable features such as variable alarms and specialized detection options enable mining companies to enhance safety measures, optimize workflows, and achieve maximum efficiency while adhering to industry-specific safety standards.
  • What benefits can a Collision Awareness System bring to factory settings in terms of productivity and operational disruptions?

    Collision Awareness Systems help boost productivity in factory environments by minimizing disruptions and downtime. Features like Forklift Proximity Detection ensure smooth operations by alerting workers to potential hazards and preventing collisions between machinery. By facilitating seamless workflow management, these systems enhance efficiency and reduce the risk of accidents.

Collision Awareness System Resources
Manufacturing

Chirp Technology: Cost-Effective 3-in-1 Solution for Tracking

12 minute read | September 27, 2024
IoT

How to Optimize Warehouse Processes with RTLS

14 minute read | November 16, 2022
IoT

5 Key Steps for Building a Smart Warehouse

13 minute read | August 23, 2022
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