The award-winning off-highway surround sensing system from Bosch uses ultrasonic and radar sensors for object recognition, distance measurement and collision avoidance. While the ultrasonic technology is optimised for the near-field range, radar systems are suitable both for near- and far-field monitoring. The surround-sensing system can thus be used for collision warning and avoidance as well as for distance measuring purposes – for example, in the case of sprayer booms or during grape harvests. In such applications, the surround sensing system ensures that an optimum distance is maintained between the harvester and the vines or that the driver is notified of obstacles in good time so that collisions can be avoided. Thanks to the high-precision object localisation, the system not only warns the driver but also delivers the exact distance and position of other objects. This facilitates parallel operation of two machines, for example.
The multicamera system from Bosch supplements the ultrasonic and radar sensors. With four near-field cameras, it offers a 360° view around the vehicle. Using the same camera technology, the system can be enhanced with the addition of a collision warning system, which notifies the driver of any stationary or moving objects in the critical environment of the vehicle.
Bosch launched two versions of the 24V ultrasonic sensor system for near-field monitoring of the working area at the beginning of January. Although both 24V systems feature identical hardware, there are differences when it comes to the processing of the sensor data and thus the functional scope of the different versions. While the basic system simply measures the distance of a specific obstacle, the high-end solution also features object localisation.
"In the future, agricultural machinery will be able to perform many operations completely automatically. With its off-highway surround sensing system, Bosch has laid the foundation for efficient development of additional assistance functions in the off-highway sector," explains Stefan Schenk, who is responsible for the off-road operating unit at Robert Bosch GmbH.