Industrial Automation Magazine India

LogiMAT: Bosch multi-camera system for forklifts now available as retrofit solution

Published on : Tuesday 25-04-2023

Retrofit solution available from special distribution partners as of summer 2023; coordinated overall system for quick and simple installation.

Abstatt, Germany, April 2023 – Forklifts are the secret heroes of modern warehousing. They move heavy loads, help to transport goods quickly, and support efficient logistics. However, the use of forklifts in everyday work is associated with a variety of accident risks. Collisions are usually caused by a lack of visibility of the vehicle surroundings (for example, when driving backwards or maneuvering with loaded forks). This is where the Bosch sight assist, which is based on the multi-camera system, provides valuable support. It generates a 360° representation of the current vehicle surroundings and displays it on a monitor in the cockpit. The driver can thus clearly see what is happening in the vehicles vicinity at all times. A new version of the multi-camera system is now also available for retrofitting. With our special retrofit solution, existing vehicles will also be able to benefit from the added safety provided by the multi-camera system in the future. Accident situations are significantly mitigated. Driver stress levels are also drastically reduced, allowing them to work in a more relaxed manner and maintain their full performance for longer, explains Philipp Kurek, responsible for Off-Highway Solutions at Bosch Engineering GmbH.

The retrofit multi-camera system comprises four compact near-range cameras (including control unit), a universal wiring harness, a 10-inch touch display, and a set of camera mounts. The complete package thus includes everything needed for quick and simple installation, regardless of the vehicle make, model, or year of manufacture. When developing the system, we placed particular emphasis on delivering high functional quality in all usage conditions. For example, the exclusive use of digital camera technology from the sensor to the monitor ensures high image quality even in adverse light conditions, says Kurek. The high-resolution display ensures very good image representation and readability even in direct sunlight or rapid changes in brightness. A robust housing made of powder-coated die-cast aluminum also makes the display usable in harsh outdoor environments, for instance.

All functions of the retrofit solution are controlled via a touch interface on the display. For example, the intuitive menu can be used to switch between different camera views, allowing the driver to choose between front/rear camera views and the 360° surround view in full screen or split screen, as well as a panorama view. In panorama mode, the view area of the front or rear camera is expanded to 180°. Thanks to the extended angle of view, this mode ensures much greater safety, for example, when driving backwards in areas with restricted visibility, such as exit gates.