Crown Equipment releases lidar-based ProximityAssist integrated operator assist system

Material handling company Crown Equipment introduced its ProximityAssist System, a lidar-based, integrated operator assist technology designed to aid in the operation of material handling equipment.

When Crown’s ProximityAssist System detects an object in the vehicle’s expected path of travel, it automatically slows the forklift.

Lift truck operators remain in control

Crown Equipment said the operator maintains complete control of the forklift to respond to the object in the forklift’s path. Lift trucks equipped with Crown’s InfoLink 7” touch display or the Gena operating system’s 7” touchscreen will also provide visual and audible alerts when an object is detected.

“The ProximityAssist System can be a valuable tool for reinforcing operator training and increasing awareness,” said Jared Green, director of global sales for automation and emerging technology, Crown Equipment. “It is important to note that this type of detection and alert system does not eliminate the responsibility of operators and pedestrians to be aware of each other and maintain a safe working environment. Operators must be fully trained and capable of operating the lift truck safely with or without the assist feature.” 

The ProximityAssist System is an integrated and responsive operator assist technology designed and configured specifically for the forklift model on which it is used. Each configuration is designed to detect objects such as racking, pallet loads, boxes and other objects in the forklift’s expected path of travel.

The integration utilizes inputs from the forklift’s steering and travel systems to automatically adjust the sensor’s field of view to properly align with the expected path of the forklift. Crown Equipment said this dynamic field of view makes instantaneous adjustments based on the steer direction and the travel speed of the forklift to focus on objects in this expected path.

The ProximityAssist System’s sensors are mounted in a rugged steel housing to protect them from potential damage. They are located low to the ground, allowing the system to detect objects such as racking, pallet loads, boxes and other obstructions near ground level while traveling in the power unit direction.

The ProximityAssist System is currently available with new Crown reach trucks, order pickers and stand-up counterbalance lift trucks. It is also available as a retrofit solution for these lift trucks as well as Crown’s turret trucks, tow tractors and select rider pallet trucks.