Hyster Co. today expanded its Hyster Reaction lineup of operator-assist technologies with its pedestrian-awareness camera. The company said the system can accurately identify pedestrians at ranges up to 16 ft. (4.8 m) through a 110-degree field of view. It provides automatic alerts to the lift truck operator when a pedestrian is detected.
“Operator situational awareness is a critical element of forklift and pedestrian safety, and our continued investment in Hyster Reaction operator-assist solutions is meant to provide an extra layer of support as they navigate their surroundings,” stated Steven LaFevers, vice president for global emerging technology at Hyster.
“Our goal with the pedestrian-awareness solution is to provide technology that operators can easily understand and use, capable of performing reliably in real-world applications – whether at a lumber yard, construction site or heavy manufacturing environment,” he said.
Founded in 1929, Hyster is a leading designer and manufacturer of forklifts and material handling systems. The Cleveland-based company claimed that its equipment can meet the demands of everything from fast-paced industrial warehouses and manufacturing facilities to the most demanding, heavy-duty applications like ports and terminals.
Hyster camera system works indoors, outdoors
Hyster said it developed the pedestrian-awareness detection system with extensive amounts of photographic data collected from worksites. Hyster Reaction can adapt to various lighting and environmental conditions, said the company, and it is usable for both indoor and outdoor forklift applications.
The pedestrian-detection system is optimized for travel speeds of 5 mph (8 kph) or less, giving operators ample time to identify alerts and react to avoid contact, according to Hyster. The camera is mounted to the rear, forks-trailing side of the lift truck, and its alerts disengage once the identified pedestrian is no longer in view of the camera.
The active alert and assist system is available with audible, visual, and optional traction alerts. Upon detecting a pedestrian, Hyster’s safety system vocally communicates proximity, and a light indicates which zone the pedestrian is in on the truck-mounted operator remote.
Traction alerts go a step further by automatically and gradually slowing down the lift truck. This is in effect similar to the operator removing their foot from the accelerator.
While operators remain in ultimate control of the equipment, this deceleration effect is intended to get their attention and encourage them to avoid detected pedestrians by applying the brakes, steering away, or both.
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Pedestrian camera adds flexibility
Hyster’s expanded system is available in multiple configurations. The pedestrian-awareness camera is the latest addition to the Hyster Reaction lineup of operator-assist technologies that take input from the work environment and equipment status to alert operators and adjust lift truck performance.
The telematics system initially launched in 2021, and the technology has since accumulated over 24 million hours of run time on more than 8,300 units deployed in the field.
Hyster is a division of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Inc. Earlier this month, Yale Lift Truck Technologies announced the addition of the pedestrian-awareness camera to its Reliant portfolio. The companies have a dedicated, global dealer network.
