Proximity Detection System for Vehicles (PDS)

I need to put together an early warning system Audible+Visual that warns the operator of various big earth moving machines of the presence of pedestrians close by thus protecting them from being run over.

My idea is with RF sensors that gets worn by the pedestrians and a controller in the cab area of the machine

The alarm/warning lights gets triggered when the pedestrians enter into a preset radius from the machine.

The system must be cost effective and simple to use and install and portable.

Can anyone lead me to the correct hardware and means to get this done?

The alarm/warning lights gets triggered when the pedestrians enter into a preset radius from the machine.

Radio is out of the question, because it is impossible to make reliable distance measurements with simple equipment.

Even if the RF side worked, the big problem with this is that it isn't detecting a pedestrian. It is detecting the RF tag that the pedestrian is supposed to be wearing. This system could work well for a while and the heavy equipment drivers will get used to the system detecting pedestrians to the point that the drivers start assuming that if the system doesn't warn them of a pedestrian it means that there is no pedestrian.
Then someone forgets to put on their RF tag.
Squish.

Pete

In most advanced countries, unauthorized visitors are not allowed near heavy equipment while it is operating.

AndrewAYA:
I need to put together an early warning system Audible+Visual that warns the operator of various big earth moving machines of the presence of pedestrians close by thus protecting them from being run over.

My idea is with RF sensors that gets worn by the pedestrians and a controller in the cab area of the machine

The alarm/warning lights gets triggered when the pedestrians enter into a preset radius from the machine.

The system must be cost effective and simple to use and install and portable.

Can anyone lead me to the correct hardware and means to get this done?

I really appreciate your concern as the husband, who owned a construction company, of a fellow computer programmer, was run over and killed by a backing up piece of equipment. Even though he knew better and the loud horn was honking.

I have to think you have not been working for a construction company for very long. Many operations have one or more person working with and beside large pieces of equipment. I wonder if you have done any statistical studies relating to death or injury by large equipment? How many statistics were for experienced construction workers, who knew better?

Paul

AndrewAYA:
I need to put together an early warning system Audible+Visual that warns the operator of various big earth moving machines of the presence of pedestrians close by thus protecting them from being run over.

My idea is with RF sensors that gets worn by the pedestrians and a controller in the cab area of the machine

The alarm/warning lights gets triggered when the pedestrians enter into a preset radius from the machine.

The system must be cost effective and simple to use and install and portable.

Can anyone lead me to the correct hardware and means to get this done?

Standard ultrasonic car reversing sensor kits are available everywhere these days. Of course you might want
a better range, and they don't work well with rough ground since then the ground reflects the sound. They
are a place to start.

RF is completely unable to give good distance estimates unless you use the new UWB type
triangulation technology (true time of flight), but that's still expensive and assume fixed base stations.

Requiring someone to carry a piece of tech is more dangerous than not using it, it allows the
assumption of no device, no person present. The correct approach to this problem is probably better
visibility in the cab using CCTV.

This in my mind is an unsuitable project for an Arduino - I’d avoid anything with “safety” in the title