MAX-SAFE Reverse Watch 2.0 is a reversing sensor mounted on the rear of a vehicle that detects obstacles and people over a 50m2 “danger” area behind a vehicle. The solution has a super-fast scanning and detection capability that calculates the speed of approaching objects and triggers braking before being in the “red danger zone”.

MAX-SAFE Side-Arm Pedestrian Protection is a new camera-based AI solution designed to detect and protect pedestrians and other VRUs from the unique operations of side-arm waste management vehicles. The solution has been integrated with Bucher Municipal’s side arm recycling body mechanics to audibly and visually alert the vehicle driver – and actively halt the vehicle’s side arm or move it to a safer position – thereby preventing collision with a person

This is the first time such systems have been used in Tasmania by Veolia. According to John Kneebone, Veolia Maintenance Coordinator, Northern Region Tasmania, the safety solutions overcome the major blind spot challenges of operating residential collection vehicles.

“Reverse Watch 2.0 is a major improvement on the earlier system due to several feature upgrades and the Side Loader System makes protecting the side of a vehicle safer for VRUs, and more economical and reliable due to the underlying AI technology,” he said.

“Our drivers particularly like the lack of intrusiveness of these news solutions. When installed per the manufacturers specifications, drivers are only made aware of them when there is an actual danger.

“Our drivers now have a solid safety system that they can rely on with confidence to protect VRUs and avoid property damage. These MAX-SAFE solutions will reduce the number of incidents where a VRU has contact with the lifting arm or garbage bin, or a reversing truck,” he said.

Veolia also uses the MAX-SAFE Anti-Rollaway Brake System to ensure waste management trucks won’t roll-away in the event of a driver neglecting to correctly apply the park brake before leaving their vehicle.