Digital Construction Awards 2023: L Lynch wins Digital Innovation in Health, Safety and Wellbeing

Lynch approached plant industry software specialist Safety Shield Global to find out if its AI collision avoidance system could be developed to support an autobraking system.

The first stage of the project involved the use of simulation of the CAN bus (the vehicle’s black box), developed by articulated dump truck (ADT) manufacturer Bell Equipment, to allow the AI technology to communicate with the ADT and ‘shake hands’ with the commands being asked of it. After several weeks of trialling, the bespoke system was installed on an ADT.

The system integrates the AI human form recognition host unit with high-definition waterproof and shockproof cameras, starting detection at 60m distance from the machine. Autonomous braking begins from 10m, and the machine comes to a controlled stop at a 2m distance.

Rigorous tests were conducted, allowing the proof of concept to be trialled in real-life conditions.

During the first weeks of trialling, the findings from the passive data identified 664 incidents relating to people-plant interface. This data resulted in the project team reviewing and adapting the site set-up. After reconfiguring paths and haul roads and looking at site access, the team saw a reduction in incursions to 30 alerts a day.

John Marley, senior works superintendent at SCS JV said: “Although we didn’t expect to win tonight, we put a hell of a lot of work into it and feel like we deserve it. A year ago we were talking about the concept and tonight we are collecting an award. It’s really rewarding, not just for us, but for the whole industry.”

Jonathan Guest, CEO at Safety Shield, added: “It’s been a jolly collaboration and it’s been hard work. We delivered something really great in a very short period of time. We’ve created something that is saving lives and stopping collisions on sites. We’ve taken the first step in the journey of the way the industry is going.”

Read about the rest of the awards winners.

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