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of outdoor settings, from building security to cranes, have relied on SICK’s safeHDDM technology, which cancels out the false trips caused by conditions such bright light, moisture, visibility and temperature.


Technical standard Despite these advances, until recently there was no European technical standard available for sensor manufacturers to certify a safety laser scanner to operate safely outdoors. That changed in 2019, when the SICK OutdoorScan3 was first safety laser scanner in the world to be certified to a new technical standard IEC TS 62998. The SICK OutdoorScan3 ably masters a delicate balance between performance and resilience to outdoor influences. It opened doors for mobile machine builders to offer a safety certification, not just in industrial automation and intralogistics environments, but also for autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles in sectors such as airports, agriculture and mining.


Since the launch, SICK has amassed valuable experience with machine builders and their customers using the OutdoorScan3 operationally. These partnerships have also aided in the further refinement of the outdoor laser scanner’s capabilities. We have learned that every site and every climate is different. So, perfecting a safety system design that keeps the machine available and productive are paramount. Just as indoors, when analysing the safety requirements, questions might include: Will the route be fixed along magnetic tape, or free with GPS- assisted navigation? What are the floor characteristics? Are there any critical curves, ramps, steps or other irregularities like rails? What are the risks of collisions with people, other vehicles or fixed obstacles? What are the dimensions, characteristics and stability of the load and load carrier?


Outdoor risks


Considering the outdoors could include how loads might be affected by bad weather, what are the local climatic conditions? Are sections of the route prone to flooding? Does steam vent from the ground in any positions? Could temperature differences moving from indoors to outdoors lead to condensation on optical surfaces?


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Further technology developments in the OutdoorScan3 have therefore focused on maintaining high availability and enabling the vehicle to adapt quickly to changing conditions. For example, when the rainfall is over 10mm/h, water spray or rain on the sensor can negatively affect the safety- critical task. The SICK AirWiper, which functions like an air-based windscreen wiper, removes water droplets from the optics cover using compressed air. The SICK AGV Dynamic Weather Assist safety system with dynamic field switching allows continuous operation in rain and snow. Integrated with SICK Flexi Soft safety controller and a specially-designed software function block, the OutdoorScan3 safety laser scanner automatically switches its protective fields depending on the weather, and prompts a switch to slower operation when poor weather is detected. In this way, interruptions in material flow are avoided and the AGV’s mechanical components and braking systems are protected from excessive wear.


During brief heavy storms, the


precipitation may rise to above 30mm/h. The scanner can detect the rain and prompt a decision about whether the vehicle should be brought to a complete stop, whether it can


The SICK OutdoorScan3 safety laser scanner, certified for outdoor use


continue automatically using alternative safety measures, or alert a switch to manual operation.


About the OutdoorScan3: It can be used in safety applications requiring certification to PLd (ISO 13849)/SIL2 (IEC 62061) and is additionally a class D device according to IEC TS 62998. With a wide scanning angle of 275° and a protective field range of four metres, the OutdoorScan3 achieves a total safe scanning area of 38.40m2


with


a minimum response time of 90ms. The OutdoorScan3 can monitor up to 128 individual and freely-definable protective fields, and up to eight fields simultaneously, giving it ability to respond highly dynamically to the changing environment around it. The SICK OutdoorScan3 offers options for easy and versatile integration using SICK’s Flexi Soft safety controller and SICK Flexi Soft EFI-pro gateway. Up to six OutdoorScan3 devices can be networked into a safety system with the option to integrate safety encoders for safe motion control. Configuration and field setup is easy using SICK’s intuitive Safety Designer software tool.


CONTACT:


SICK www.sick.co.uk


Automation | July/August 2023


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