The Blaxtair machine/pedestrian anti-collision solution deployed on SUEZ R&R sites in France
Sponsored Article by Blaxtair®
Arcure, a French company specialising in artificial intelligence applied to image processing in industry, is continuing the deployment of Blaxtair – its vehicle/pedestrian anti-collision solution – within Suez, a model of excellence in terms of safety at work.
For Suez, a major player in the field of environmental services, safety is a core value. This is why the Group has committed to take steps to prevent machinery/pedestrian collisions at its recycling and recovery sites in France, for example the implementation of pedestrian routes and restricted areas.
SUEZ adopted the Blaxtair solution in 2016 after conclusive trials carried out in the Rhône-Alpes region. Since then, the system has been deployed nationwide and to date, more than 700 Blaxtair have been installed on sites, where the pedestrian/machinery accident risk is highest. Recognized by the network of Health and Safety managers of SUEZ Recycling & Recovery as one of the pillars of vehicle/pedestrian coactivity management, Blaxtair has become a standard in this business unit of the Group in France.
The system is installed on excavators, wheel loaders and telehandlers, used in sorting and waste-moving operations. Heavy plant such as this, which perform many different manoeuvres, operate in environments where pedestrians can also be present and Blaxtair can best protect them.
The collaboration between Arcure and SUEZ was further strengthened in 2020 with Blaxtair Connect, a completely new solution which revolutionizes the management of safety around machines: Blaxtair Connect enables managers to identify the most high-risk areas on their site and to measure the effectiveness of the preventive actions implemented. After having tested the solution at a pilot site, the Group plans to deploy it on a larger scale in 2021.
« Blaxtair appeared to us as the most efficient and reliable turnkey solution. Easy to install and adaptable to all types of industrial vehicles, it reduces the incidence of dangerous situations and near-misses linked to coactivity between machines and pedestrians. We will continue to equip vehicles operating at our sites. », emphasises Damien Mespouilles, Head of Health and Safety projects and expertise at SUEZ Recyclage & Recovery France.
About Blaxtair®
As a result of the collaboration between Arcure and the CEA (Atomic Energy Commission), Blaxtair® is the benchmark for on-board personnel detection system within the industrial world. This innovative 3D camera differentiates between humans and obstacles, in defined detection zone(s), alerting the driver and providing also the possibility of slowing the vehicle down, in the event of a detection.
The performance of Blaxtair®, unique in the world, is based on its artificial intelligence (AI), which provides an additional layer of pedestrian protection, whilst avoiding untimely shutdowns of machinery, and the consequent loss of productivity and operator/driver vigilance.
The cloud-based solution, ‘Blaxtair Connect’ revolutionizes the safety of people around machines, helping companies to achieve the “zero accident” objective they seek, by allowing them to proactively manage out the risks of collisions and thus drastically reduce them.
About Arcure
Founded in 2009, Arcure is a high-tech company specialized in artificial intelligence for image processing in the industrial world, which develops and markets solutions to enhance the autonomy and safety of machines and industrial robots.
In collaboration with the CEA research teams, Arcure has notably developed Blaxtair®, a cutting-edge intelligent pedestrian proximity detection solution, enhancing safety around industrial vehicles in many contexts, and particularly in the most extreme environments. With nearly 9,000 units already sold in more than 30 countries, Blaxtair® is used by global industry leaders and has been progressively adopted by machine manufacturers.
More recently, Arcure has expanded its offer with Omega, a 3D vision sensor, based on Blaxtair® technology, exclusively for OEMs and smart system integrators for Industry 4.0.
Arcure, listed on Euronext Growth (ISIN: FR0013398997 – Code: ALCUR) posted sales in 2020 of 7.8 M€ (69% through export).
