Smallest safety laser scanner on the market available now

The new ultra-compact safety laser scanner from Leuze can be easily integrated and employed flexibly to safeguard danger zones and access points on narrow production lines, AGVs, and robots. The RSL 200 from Leuze is the smallest safety laser scanner currently available on the market. It safeguards machines, AGVs and robots. Thanks to its compact dimensions, it is easy to integrate even in limited spaces.

In industrial automation, efficiency and safety must go hand in hand: People, machines and processes must be reliably protected without impairing production processes. However, space is limited in narrow production lines on automated guided vehicles and robots. This is where the new ultra-compact RSL 200 safety laser scanner from Leuze scores points: As the smallest safety laser scanner on the market, it can be integrated effortlessly and used flexibly to safeguard danger zones and access points.

Safety laser scanners are increasingly in the limelight in almost every industry. This is because these versatile devices are indispensable in many cases to ensure the highest safety standards for the protection of people. Thanks to configurable protective and warning fields, they can be used very flexibly for danger zone and access guarding - for both stationary and mobile applications. A typical area of application is protecting a machine's hazardous working areas against unauthorised access and the presence of personnel. Laser safety scanners are also ideal for safeguarding autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and driverless transport systems, also known as automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

A small but extremely helpful detail is the safety laser scanner's rotatable connection, which allows flexible cable routing and, therefore, space-saving mounting of the device.

Modern safety laser scanners must meet a wide range of requirements simultaneously. In addition to their primary task of safely shutting down machines or systems, they must not compromise machine availability or lead to unnecessary downtime. Additionally, laser scanners are expected to have an impressive operating range and scanning angle, while the system operator takes safety classifications in accordance with Type 3, SIL 2, and PLd as specified. The system operator must also be able to rely on convenient configuration and diagnostics, which can be carried out effortlessly and intuitively via various interfaces such as Bluetooth, USB or Ethernet TCP/IP. Last but not least, modern safety laser scanners are selected based on their device size. That's because increasing automation is making spatial efficiency ever more important in many production environments. Systems are becoming increasingly complex while the available space for safety technology is decreasing. There is often little room for this, particularly in mobile use on AGVs.

Innovative solutions are needed to meet these challenges. The Sensor People from the company are setting new form factor standards with their advanced safety laser technology, which prioritises the user above all else. The ultra-compact safety laser scanner is currently the smallest device on the market. It combines state-of-the-art LiDAR technology in a compact space of just 80mm x 80mm x 86mm. This makes it straightforward to integrate even in extremely confined spaces, whether in stationary or mobile applications.

The compact safety scanner offers users more options for simple and flexible installation, particularly in confined environments, thanks to its space-saving mounting bracket or connection technology. The right mounting accessories are key to quick integration. That's why the company has developed its own innovative mounting bracket for the device, providing effortless fastening and allowing the safety laser scanner's scan level to be aligned horizontally and vertically. Simple servicing is also ensured: the device can be replaced quickly and easily with just four screws, and sensor parameters can be transferred from the old to the new sensor via a memory card, requiring no prior sensor knowledge.

Connections and cables must not cause any obstacles either. Rotatable M12 connections on the RSL 200 laser scanner allow extremely flexible cable routing for I/Os, power supply and data transmission. These are essential criteria, particularly for use on small AGVs. The Sensor People also offer a new mobile diagnostics app that allows status information to be conveniently retrieved even if the laser scanner is installed in locations that are difficult or impossible to access.

For a safety laser scanner to work optimally, its 'inner' values are also important. For example, the scanning angle must be large enough to reliably fulfil the application-specific safety task, e.g., to completely cover blind spots or hard-to-see zones behind machines or conveyor belts. It must also be able to safeguard small omnidirectional AGVs/AMRs in every direction. For example, the RSL 200 offers a 275-degree scanning angle at an operating range of 3m. The large scanning angle enables the user to ensure all-round protection with just two diagonally positioned devices, even considering mounting tolerances.

Thirty-two switchable sets of protective and warning fields allow the AGV/AMR user to continuously adjust the speed and direction of travel. The monitored areas can thus be optimally adapted to curved paths, varying speeds, and different load conditions.