Continental developed the new ProViu 360 intelligent surround-view system to reduce stress on heavy-equipment operators and help them handle the swelling flood of operating information to maximize safety and efficiency. The digital camera system is one of the highlights in Continental’s bauma 2019 booth.
“As technical development progresses, construction machine operators are receiving more and more new information – and it’s valuable information too, because it increases efficiency and quality on the construction site,” says Peter Wagner, Continental's segment manager responsible for small series and retrofit solutions in construction machinery. “If we really want the new digital developments to lead to more efficiency and safety, then we have to make it as easy as possible for [the driver] by displaying that information in a clear and targeted way.”
Continental's new ProViu 360 camera system has four 1.3-megapixel cameras that can view the space 360 degrees around a machine, giving the driver a bird’s-eye view of his machine. The second generation of the camera for this system is completely digital, delivering higher-quality images in HD resolution to a 10 in. HD touch display. Production of the ProViu 360 digital version as a general application for a bird’s-eye view is planned for 2020.
The ProViu 360 can also become intelligent with the next step, because valuable additional information like radar and tire pressure data can be fed into the system. In augmented reality, markers, icons or texts can also be placed on the image in the display. The sensors can warn of collisions, for example, and this can be shown on the screen in colorful 3D imagery.
Continental says its displays also contribute to greater machine efficiency. Bright imagery makes the screens easy to read in strong sunlight.
MultiViu Compact primary instrumentation with 7-in. display and optional touchscreen offers optional Bluetooth capability that allows the driver retrieve vehicle information like oil or fuel levels with their mobile phone and forward the information to the site office. Conversely, the display can also show messages from the smartphone. Two CAN ports, a video input and multiple digital and analog inputs and outputs round off the technical features.
Premium versions, like the freely programmable MultiViu Professional12 instrument cluster, boasts a high-resolution, optically bonded 12.3-in. color TFT display, a real-time 2D graphic display and a video display. It eases the driver’s workload by clearly presenting all the relevant information about his machine as animated text, scales, bar graphs or symbols.
The modular driver’s workplace (mDWP) can be customized to the needs of its users. One special feature is the combination of up to three displays with two freely configurable control panels, making all the relevant information and the most important control panels easy to access. The driver benefits from this concept because they only see the information really needed for the task at hand, eliminating distractions. The system will display pop-up messages to warn the driver of unusual or hazardous situations.
For the manufacturer, the modular driver’s workplace represents a major step forward in terms of flexibility and individualization. Thanks to its modular design, control panels and displays can be arranged to match the manufacturer’s requirements, allowing the company to focus entirely on the special requirements of its customers. Operator panels are connected via CANbus and are programmable, making the system universally usable.
bauma April 8-14 in Munich, Germany, (Hall C5, Booth 403) will see Continental showcase these and many other solutions for relieving the strain on drivers.