Sensor system to detect accidental bucket contact with structures and people

An increasing number of safety features are being added to various engineering designs and processes of today and they have become the most important consideration in every design. Construction is a high-risk industry, hence the need for such systems is more pronounced. The cost of repairing damaged parts is significant due to the expensive price of construction machinery and related equipment. Based on the necessity for safety of the machinery and personnel on site, a suitable sensor system is designed and built to detect possible threats of collision with structures or people. Due to harsh operational environments, these sensors must be immune to a variety of interference and noise and must work in different weather conditions. A sensor system based on ultrasonic range-finding and infrared motion detection has been proposed which has undergone different tests to check feasibility of the design. The prototype worked as expected with some limitations which could be improved with better design and hence. Considering the low cost of the proposed system and its great economic and social benefits, the system would be a practically valuable option to be added onto existing machinery.