Issue link: https://resources.mouser.com/i/1437663
mouser.com/amphenol 23 The crane is equipped with fail-safe switches that prevent an operator from moving a load in any direction that is beyond the crane's operational limits. These switches are controlled by an onboard computer that continuously recalculates limits based on changing load and position sensor data. The operator remains in constant radio contact with a crew on the roof. Other than a crack in the concrete, the air conditioner installation goes forward without a hitch. This is just one example of how modern construction operations depend on different types of data collected and processed in real- time. Data is rapidly becoming the lifeblood of greater safety, efficiency, and precision at the connected construction site. Other Examples • PRECISION GUIDANCE AND OPERATION OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT. Bulldozers have sensors built into their buckets that detect horizontal and vertical positions. These sensors, combined with highly accurate global positioning system (GPS) data, are used for precision earth movement and grading on a construction site. These systems greatly improve efficiency and accuracy because they enable operators to see their location in real-time and set limits on how much earth is moved within the site. Similar controls are found in other kinds of excavation equipment. Even passive equipment, such as dumpsters for construction debris, come equipped with sensors that detect and signal when the bin is full so that it can be hauled off and replaced without interrupting construction operations. • DRONES. Radio-controlled drones are used to survey sites and inspect structural elements that would be difficult or dangerous for human inspectors to reach. They must operate reliably and transmit streaming video in a range of temperature and moisture conditions. • AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES. Some construction sites deploy fully autonomous vehicles, such as driverless excavation equipment, that can be preprogrammed or remotely operated to perform precision work with fewer human operators. These devices are controlled through cloud-based applications and depend on internet connectivity, GPS data, location data from sensors on the equipment, and proximity data from image sensors. Together, they're processed in real-time for collision avoidance and to prevent equipment from injuring people. • ASSET TRACKING. Inexpensive radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, which communicate with receivers on a mesh network, help identify and track employees and equipment on a construction site. Receivers log RFID tags every time they pass through specific locations equipped with tag readers, enabling site managers to track tools and monitor the locations of trucks and equipment. RFID technology is also used to monitor and schedule the movements of equipment, such as dump trucks loading and unloading between different locations. RIFD tag data is captured each time a truck drives by an RFID receiver, and that data is tracked in a database. The technology also helps keep people safe—for example, by triggering alarms if anyone goes near a hazard, such as an open elevator shaft. • EQUIPMENT MONITORING AND PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE. Control modules continuously read data from various sensors within vehicles. Limits and triggers can be set to notify operators automatically of potential issues. These sensors also enable operators to perform preventative maintenance without impeding construction progress.