Proxicam and Elite Auto Electrical & Air-Conditioning have partnered to pioneer pedestrian safety around earthmovers and equipment.
From the hustle and bustle of central Sydney, across the width of Australia to the outer suburbs of Perth and up far north to the red dirt of The Pilbara: that’s the journey the pedestrian detection and proximity warning system Proxicam has taken to reach Elite Auto Electrical & Air-Conditioning’s technicians.
The breadth of this journey is juxtaposed to how close both companies are aligned in providing safety technology to machines of any size.
Proxicam is the latest innovation from FleetSafe, developer and distributor of cutting- edge aftermarket safety solutions to the automotive and plant industries.
For more than a decade, the family-owned and operated Elite Auto Electrical & Air-Conditioning has built a reputation for superior service and technical excellence.
It was to no one’s surprise how quickly the relationship became symbiotic when FleetSafe Managing Director Clive Rogers and Elite Managing Director Brayden Duckworth started working together.
In 2020, Elite was initially reselling and installing FleetSafe’s advanced collision avoidance and radar systems for trucks.
“If it wasn’t for being able to work with a team with similar values, we probably wouldn’t have branched out to install Proxicam,” Brayden said.
“We have been working with FleetSafe for several years with multiple products and never experienced any issues.”
Clive remarked a similar sentiment. “We aren’t just looking for resellers we can unload our product to. We want to build a mutually beneficial partnership, working with organisations as motivated as we are to make machines safer. Elite fitted that mould perfectly,” he said.
How does pedestrian detection work?
Proxicam’s AI camera harnesses computer vision and training through deep learning neural networks to interpret and understand visual data in the world. This mimics the human brain’s ability to process and comprehend visual inputs in real-time.
So when a person enters the detection zone configured around a machine, Proxicam will identify them as a human and immediately trigger an alert to the operator.
The advanced AI built into the camera can perform this potentially life-saving function in any conditions without the need for people to be wearing specialty vests or RFID hardware.
Accompanying the smart camera are the alert options. A high-definition, 7-inch LCD monitor provides visual and audible alerts when a detection event occurs.
If multiple cameras are used, live video feeds will simultaneously be displayed on screen. An LED buzzer is also available which illuminates and produces an audible warning.
Preventing an incident is the core function of Proxicam. But the ability to capture critical data to identify trends and prevent future incidents is what sets Proxicam apart from other technology on the market.
The DV-Hub will record continuous and event-based HD video when a detection event is triggered.
Asset location, speed and other telemetry information will also be included. This will be captured from multiple cameras and stored locally on the 2TB SSD.
Real-time remote monitoring and alerts can also be configured. FleetHQ, the safety intelligence platform will take data from DV- Hub and produce powerful insights. For safety managers, this allows a full review of incidents to take place but also improves training and other engineering controls.
Motivation For Proxicam
For more than 20 years, FleetSafe has been at the forefront of aftermarket safety technology for the automotive and plant industries.
For Clive, the motivation for developing Proxicam was simple.
“Our motivation was zero. Zero collisions, injuries and fatalities caused by heavy machinery and plant equipment,” he said.
Clive believes to achieve this goal, pedestrian detection technology needs to be accessible to all.
“A workplace should not have to forego reducing risk because of a budget issue,” he said.
“We have customers across the spectrum. From small owner operators with a few forklifts to Tier 1 miners, government organisations and multinational construction companies with hundreds of machines in their fleet.”
The latest statistics from WorkSafe Australia attest to this motivation. Machinery Operators and Drivers statistics show a workplace fatality rate of 8.4 per 100,000 workers (Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2023) — the third highest amongst all occupations in Australia.
- Customisable detection zones:
Proxicam’s detection zones can be fully configured to cater to the most specific exclusion zone requirements.
“We know first-hand that every workplace has a different definition for safe separation from machines. In some cases, a machine may need a 10-metre exclusion zone at the front and only 5m at the rear,” Clive said.
It’s not just the size of the zone that can be customised. There are multiple detection zone shapes available, from a semi-circle to cater for small machines that can pivot on a point, to a trapezoid that covers the entire width of a machine.
A three-stage zone that only triggers proximity alerts at specific distances is also available.
“The best part is, all this can be set up by dragging the zone into place on Proxicam’s Installation app. It literally takes minutes to complete,” Clive said.
- Engineered to be tough:
Proxicam was manufactured to meet stringent quality standards and regulatory control including ISO9001, IATF1694, Conformité Européenne (EU), FCC (USA), RCM (AUS).
The Proxicam Pedestrian Detection system and components are built to withstand all conditions, achieving an IP69K rating for the Smart Camera and DV-Hub, IP67 rated LCD Monitor. Even the hottest day in the Pilbara will not impact Proxicam, with an operating temperature tolerance of 70oC.
The Elite experience
For Elite, the timing of Proxicam was perfect. Across WA, Tier 1 miners have started mandating pedestrian detection systems on all vehicles and machines.
The increase in awareness for the technology has also been driving interest.
“Within our business we are constantly looking for innovative products we can install to add value to our customers in the mining, civil and earthmoving industries,” Brayden said.
Other benefits Elite have uncovered included:
- Ease of installation:
“The Proxicam system is an easy install for us given that we have worked on many of
the machines they are being fitted to,” Brayden said.
This can be attributed to the plug ‘n’ screw-lock aviation connectors and limited componentry required to install the system.
- Direct support from the FleetSafe Team
Proxicam has been designed and manufactured by FleetSafe which allows them to provide end-to-end support for resellers. Brayden said the team at FleetSafe had been brilliant, from tackling tricky technical questions to meeting tight delivery times.
These two points are what Clive sees as crucial to ensuring the success of Proxicam resellers.
“We work closely with our network of resellers to make sure they feel comfortable with the technical aspects of the product and drive results for their business,” he said.
Skilled and experienced technicians like Elite’s can install Proxicam with ease. It can be fitted during service or repair jobs without adding hours of extra work.
The collaboration between Proxicam and Elite Auto Electrical & Air-Conditioning exemplifies a shared vision for enhancing safety for heavy machinery.