‍Client: Holmwood Highgate

Location: Airport

Project: Installation of 5 Camera 360° Birdseye System on Aeroplane Refueller

Aviation refuelling vehicles operate in tight spaces on a busy tarmac, surrounded by people and equipment. As they transfer flammable liquid, workplace safety is a high priority.

Birdseye systems offer the driver a 360-degree real time view around their vehicle, to detect obstacles in blind spots and provide enhanced viewing when manoeuvring in a busy environment.

The Continental ASL360/ProViu Birdseye camera system was selected for this installation with five specialty cameras. Each features a unique 187° fish-eye lens with superior image quality to encompass the entire view that you cannot achieve with standard rear vision mirrors.

The addition of a 5th camera mounted facing upwards is specific for the refuelling task. The camera is programmed to operate when a light is turned on, to highlight the underside of the aircraft wing. This enables the driver to position the truck accurately, by lining the correct height work platform with the plane’s refuelling point.

TRVS can customise combinations of cameras and views to suit the specific needs of each vehicle and application. On this installation, our technicians worked with the vehicle manufacturer to achieve the best result. The manufacturer routed cables and mounted the cameras while they were assembling the body of the Aeroplane Refuelling Vehicle. TRVS then programmed and calibrated the system at the manufacturer’s factory.

The objective of this installation was to reduce the risk of accidents on the tarmac. At the time of refuelling, the area around a plane is generally busy. With baggage movement, refuelling, catering loading and passengers boarding all at the same time, to optimise the plane’s turnaround time. The truck driver needs to manoeuvre the vehicle under the wing and out again, without coming in contact with the plane fuselage or other services.

Although the driver conducts a safety ‘walk around’ the vehicle prior to exiting the area, it’s an ever-changing environment and things can change before the driver moves the truck. The Birdseye camera system transmits an image on the dash-mounted monitor that encompasses the entire perimeter of the vehicle. This delivers superior driver vision and improves workplace safety.

This position would suit a qualified motor mechanic / auto electrician or vehicle installer who has experience with heavy equipment such as forklifts, trucks, buses and earthmoving equipment.  As we are located in Dandenong, this position would suit someone living in the South or South East suburbs.

You will need to:

Be able to work unsupervised

Possess a good understanding of auto electrics

Have proven welding capabilities

Be willing to accept accountability and responsibility

Display good communication and organisational skills

Have strong customer service focus

Demonstrate a solid track record of performance

Be an Australian resident

With customers located throughout Melbourne metro and regional centres, a current driver’s license is required as a fully equipped service vehicle is provided. A forklift and/or heavy vehicle license is advantageous.

Benefits include:

Being part of a family owned company

Friendly team atmosphere

Uniforms, overalls & safety equipment provided

Permanent position for the right applicant after qualifying period

A rewarding salary package will be offered to the right applicant based on skills and experience.

If you tick all the boxes above and are ready for your next challenge, send your resume to service@truckrearvision.com.au

Industry: Materials Handling
Vehicles: Forklifts
Vision Solution: Custom designed multi-camera installation

Objective of Installation:
To provide forklift operators with a clear vision of the four gabbing jaws on a forklift attachment, used to pick orders. When picking and packing stacks of wire mesh for delivery, forklift drivers were operating with impaired vision. This resulted in a high rate of damaged product, which affected the sale ability of stock, leading to stock write-downs and margin erosion.

A multi-camera system was required; one that was adaptable enough to operate within a confined space and within the mechanisms of a forklift mast. The installation of a vision solution provided the customer with productivity gains and delivered cost benefits.

Design Considerations:
Each forklift has an attachment to the forklift mast that holds 4 gabbing jaws. Operators need to accurately line these jaws up with the grab points on a stack of wire mesh. Without a camera system the operator cannot clearly see all 4 grab points at the same time.

Essential considerations for this project included the available mounting locations for cameras, a requirement for mirror and true image perspectives and narrow camera angles. A large 10.2” monitor provided the operator with a split screen view of the 4 camera angles. Cameras positioned for rear perspectives, transfer a mirror image to the monitor for easier operating of jaws to the left and right. While a close-up perspective of the gabbing jaws allows simpler alignment of the 4 jaws with the grab points on mesh stacks.

Build Considerations:
The forklifts are multi-purpose and the attachment holding the 4 gabbing jaws needs to be removed when not in use. This required a simple connection point for camera cables, between the forklift mast and the gabbing jaw attachment. The connection needed to be robust, to withstand regularly handling.

The forklift mast is removed when the forklift is transported to other locations. This required an additional connection point between the fork and the mast. Due to the number of connection points and the support requirements for a 4-camera system, simplicity was key to the cabling set-up; for ease of use and servicing.

Rather than working with 4 camera cables, Truck Rear Vision Systems customised the wiring to allow two cameras to share wiring within a single cable. Only two cables were then required on the telescoping mast of the forklifts. This worked well with the limited space of the mast.

The connection from the forklift mast to the gabbing jaws’ attachment utilized heavy duty suzi coil, as used to connect prime movers and semi-trailers in the heavy transport industry. The plugs and sockets are robust, easy to handle for fitting or removing the attachment and offered enough connections to suit the installation.

Installation:
The camera system was fitted when the forklift was at the OEM’s dealer, prior to delivery to the customer. Each component of the system was installed separately, for easy assembly on site.

The 10.2” monitor was installed on the fork truck with associated wiring and cable connections. Then the hybrid 2-cable system was fitted through the mast, with special attention paid to setting and adjusting the cable tension. The objective was to provide enough tension for the cable to remain taught and out of the way, as the mast telescopes, while not over tensioning the cable and damaging the integrity of any wiring. TRVS has a special, heavy duty cable manufactured to specification, to ensure longevity in such applications.

Cameras are then mounted on the attachment. They are fitted and adjusted using a test monitor to check, compare and secure the relative camera views. This ensures the system plugs directly into the monitor once the forklift is assembled on site and is ready to operate.

To ensure hassle free assembly on site or when the forklift is dismantled for transport, all cables are labelled for easy identification. This allows anyone to connect the system quickly and easily. Attention to detail during the design and installation stages resulted in hassle-free on site assembly and an operating system that did not require additional fine tuning.

The TRVS’ specialty is custom vision solutions with very specific fit-for-purpose requirements. To discuss your business requirements, contact us admin@truckrearvision.com.au