- R1D radar sensors for industrial applications
- Applications
- Speed control
R1D narrow beam distance sensor: Speed control applications
Radar sensors are an excellent solution for speed control and true ground speed applications due to their ability to provide precise and reliable measurements regardless of environmental conditions. They can accurately measure the speed of moving objects, even in challenging environments such as rain, fog, or dust, where other sensors might struggle. Radar sensors are unaffected by factors like lighting conditions or surface texture, ensuring consistent performance. Their advanced signal processing capabilities allow them to filter out noise and interference, maintaining high accuracy, making radar sensors a robust and dependable choice for applications requiring precise speed control and true ground speed measurements.
Explore some of these applications below. Note: Sensor position and field of view shown are conceptual.
For each application, we show a 5-point rating scale:
- ♦ Plug-and-work
- ♦♦♦♦♦ Configuration required
Conveyor load balance
By monitoring speed, manufacturers can optimize production rates and improve efficiency. This can help balance the load on machinery and reduce wear and tear. Precise non-contact speed monitoring helps in achieving high-quality results, improving efficiency and ensuring safety and reliable operation in sheet metal processing. Radar technology is not affected by the harsh environmental factors.
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Hot object speed detection
Extremely hot surfaces are normally glowing too, making it difficult for a sensing technology to detect the object. In the steel industry, detecting the hot metal reliably with a sensor solution that withstands the harsh environment is a challenge.
Radar technology is an ideal solution for this application. The sensor detects hot metal as “cold” metal and is unaffected by the glare.
Thanks to its long range, the sensor can be mounted away from the heating source to prevent any electronic failures caused by prolonged exposure to extreme heat. If the ambient temperature still exceeds the sensor’s temperature rating, users can protect the sensor in a non-metal box with active compressed air cooling without compromising the sensor’s performance.
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Rail maintence vehicle speed control - true ground speed
Railroad vehicles can operate on both rail tracks and roads. They are equipped with normal wheels with rubber tires and the additional flanged steel wheels for running on rails. It is challenging to measure the real-time machine speed when wheels are slipping. Radar sensors can measure the actual speed of the vehicle instead of measuring the rotation of the wheels.
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Forklift speed control
Safety is the top priority in any industry, particularly in manufacturing plants where forklifts are widely used. Accidents involving forklifts can have serious consequences, including injuries, fatalities, and damage to property.
When outside the production facility, the forklift is allowed to travel at a higher speed, however, once the forklift enters the building, an automatic speed control mechanism needs to be triggered to ensure maximum safety.
A focused-beam radar sensor can be mounted on top of the forklift facing up to measure the distance from the top of the forklift to the closest object. When the forklift is in the open air, the sensor will not detect any object normally. Once the forklift is inside a hall, the sensor detects the ceiling, a signal will be sent to the forklift speed control system and automatically reduce the speed and limit the maximum speed allowable indoor.
ifm’s radar sensor has long range of up to 50 m, this allows the user to adapt this solution to any ceiling height of the building.
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