PRESS RELEASE: They can deliver accurate and reliable distance sensing and measurement, especially in difficult environmental conditions.

Ideal for mining and quarrying duties, the robust, lightweight and compact sensors come with rotatable connectors, so are easily factory-fitted or retrofitted to existing equipment. They can be mounted on machinery, cranes and gantries, walls, above entrances or anywhere convenient for optimum viewpoint.

The addition of SICK's high definition distance measurement (HDDM+) ‘triple echo' scanning technology to the SICK LMS and MRS sensors has enabled much greater consistency in performance to be achieved, even when the sensors face adverse environmental conditions. Heavy rain, snow, mist or dust can lead to false signals where inferior LiDAR sensors or other alternative technologies are used.

Neil Sandhu, national product manager for imaging, measurement, ranging and systems at SICK, explained: "The triple-echo laser scanning technology means an operator can have greater confidence in the reliability of the information from the sensor, even under difficult environmental conditions. As false signals are almost eliminated, there is much less risk of collisions or errors due to an inaccurate evaluation of the position of objects in the sensor's field.

"At this size, the LMS1000 leads the field as an easy-to-use sensor that delivers excellent distant and ranging performance. MRS1000's four plane detection capability enables it to be used for more complex tasks as diverse as multi-level obstructions, boundary mapping, quarry faces, spoil heaps and security for large or sensitive areas such as vehicle yards."

The SICK LMS1000 scans in a single plane, with a 275° angle of view, up to 64m for a general range of distance detection and ranging applications, with 10 fields allowing several different pre-programmed applications. With the same angle of view and distance, the MRS1000 scans in four planes at different heights, allowing either the height of objects to be scanned in, such as overhanging obstructions, or in-depth mapping using the sensor from an elevated position. 64 fields allow a very wide range of applications.

With exceptionally high scanning frequency, the amount of data collected by the LMS and MRS1000 units ensures very high accuracy for the user. The triple echo evaluation technology means that masking effects of snowfall, mist, rain or dust are eliminated from the signal, so that the user can have maximum confidence in the detection and location of even rapidly moving objects.

With a rugged, compact housing resisting shock, impact and vibration, an operating temperature range of -30°C to +50°C and integrated heating ensure that the sensor is fit for duty even in extremes of weather and will help keep maintenance costs low.

Configuration is very easy with SICK's highly intuitive free SOPAS programming tool. Teaching in the fields takes little time and adds versatility and application-specific performance to the sensor.

The ­Ethernet interface delivers the measurement data output in real time for immediate operator action where required, and with switching outputs allowing wide availability of the data across an organisation's local area network.