Hexagon Mining today introduces HxGN Mine Personal Alert, an accident-avoidance device worn by field personnel that ensures 360-degree visibility around heavy equipment. It’s the latest integration with the company’s Collision Avoidance System, (CAS) which is used in more than 25,000 mine vehicles worldwide. It offers an additional layer of safety to operators and pedestrians who every day must deal with the dangers of blind spots, noise, heavy traffic and poor visibility.

Personal Alert uses the latest Time-of-Flight technology in the Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) range. It protects pedestrians within 50 m of a vehicle via an ergonomic tag that communicates with strategically mounted proximity anchors integrated with CAS.

CAS calculates a vehicle’s position, heading, and path while Personal Alert’s sophisticated measurement technology determines a pedestrian’s distance and position within five centimetres. Based on the highly configurable detection and alarm zones, it provides real-time visual alerts or audible alarms to vehicle operators, depending on the risk level. The pedestrian tags offer real-time visual, audible, and vibratory alarms to pedestrians, empowering them to act.

Integration of CAS and Personal Alert identifies when a pedestrian enters a vehicle cabin and adjusts the pedestrian tag into a driver mode, thus preventing unnecessary alarms. A single user interface enhances operator acceptance and cabin usability, decluttering the field of view.

“Truck-based safety systems, such as radars, warn drivers of potential collisions, but they do not acknowledge or alert pedestrians,” said Product Manager, Marcos Bayuelo. Personal Alert bridges this gap and adds an important layer of safety to our safety suite, making safety personal.

“It’s based on the same proven approach of CAS: three safety zones employing highly intuitive ascending alarms. It’s also compliant with government rules in countries such as South Africa, where mines must take extra steps towards vehicle intervention and pedestrian visibility.”