LiDAR Scanners: Advanced Safety Solutions Need Specialized Repairs
Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanners are an incredible technology with a wide array of industrial applications. In particular, LiDAR is revolutionizing how we approach workplace safety by offering unprecedented precision and versatility. But with great power comes great responsibility — and in this case, the need for specialized maintenance and repairs.
LiDAR and its components
LiDAR works on a simple yet ingenious principle: it emits laser pulses and measures the time it takes for the light to bounce back after hitting an object. This allows the scanner to create highly accurate 3D maps of its surroundings. The key components of an industrial LiDAR scanner include:
- Laser emitter
- Optical receiver
- Scanning mechanism (often a rotating mirror)
- High-precision clock
- Powerful processor for data interpretation
These components work in harmony to provide a comprehensive view of the scanner’s environment, making LiDAR an invaluable tool in various industrial safety applications. Importantly, if any one component isn’t performing as intended, it could compromise the data relayed by LiDAR.
Safety applications of LiDAR
The versatility of LiDAR technology has led to its adoption in numerous safety-critical applications. Today, you’ll find it in advanced factories around the world, playing a forefront role in promoting a culture of safety:
- Area monitoring and perimeter guarding: LiDAR scanners can create virtual fences around dangerous areas, triggering alarms or shutdowns when breached.
- Collision avoidance for autonomous vehicles: In warehouses and factories, LiDAR helps monitor automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and forklifts, preventing collisions.
- Object detection and classification: Advanced LiDAR systems can detect and classify objects, distinguishing between people, vehicles, and stationary obstacles.
- Dynamic safety zone creation: Unlike fixed physical barriers, LiDAR can create adaptive safety zones that change based on the speed and direction of moving machinery.
The need for specialized repairs and maintenance
LiDAR scanners are robust and highly sophisticated; they demand equally sophisticated repairs and maintenance:
- Expert knowledge: LiDAR systems involve complex communication between hardware and software. Technicians need specialized training to understand and troubleshoot these systems effectively.
- Risks of improper maintenance: Incorrect handling can lead to misalignment or damage, potentially compromising the safety system’s integrity. In a safety-critical application, this could have severe consequences.
- Regular inspection and cleaning: LiDAR sensors need clean lenses to function accurately. Regular, careful cleaning is essential, especially in dusty industrial environments.
- Software updates and patches: Like any modern technology, LiDAR systems often receive software updates to improve performance or patch security vulnerabilities. Staying current with these updates is crucial.
- Professional calibration services: Over time, even the most precise instruments can drift out of calibration. Regular professional calibration ensures your LiDAR scanner remains accurate.
- Scheduled maintenance: Don’t wait for something to go wrong. Establish a regular maintenance schedule with a qualified service provider to catch and address potential issues before they become problems.
Remember, while some basic maintenance tasks can be performed in-house with proper training, complex repairs and calibrations should always be left to certified professionals. The stakes are simply too high when it comes to safety equipment.
LiDAR works — when maintained
LiDAR scanners are an incredibly important part of next-gen industrial safety. Their ability to provide real-time, precise spatial awareness is transforming how we identify, prevent, and correct safety issues. However, to fully reap the benefits of this advanced technology, proper maintenance and specialized repairs are nonnegotiable.
If your LiDAR equipment is due for service, reach out to GES. Through our “Summer of Safety” special, you’ll get the precision repairs you need at an unbeatable cost: 15% off repairs for three or more units of non-PPE safety equipment — or 10% off repairs for a single unit.
