A digital slide scanning apparatus includes a safety light curtain that operates to disable the motor that rotates the carousel when the presence of an object (e.g., the fingers of an operator) is detected within a predetermined area of the carousel. The light curtain also operates to disable the motor that rotates the carousel when an improperly positioned glass slide or slide rack is detected. The digital slide scanning apparatus also includes a multi-color status indicator for each rack slot that indicates the rack slot location of an improperly positioned glass slide or slide rack.

The invention is directed to a safety device for a machine that includes a first transceiver unit for emitting a first light beam in a first time slot and for receiving a second light beam. The safety device includes a second transceiver unit arranged for emitting the second light beam in a second time slot that is different from the first one. The safety device also includes an evaluation unit for determining a reflecting object between the first transceiver unit and the second transceiver unit, only if the first light beam is received by the first transceiver unit in the first time slot or the second light beam is received by the second transceiver unit in the second time slot. Additionally, a non-reflecting object may be detected, if by neither of the two transceiver units in both time slots one of the two light beams is received.

A 3D sensor for monitoring a monitored zone is provided, wherein the 3D sensor has at least one light receiver for generating a received signal from received light from the monitored zone and has a control and evaluation unit that is configured to detect objects in the monitored zone by evaluating the received signal and to determine the shortest distance of the detected objects from at least one reference volume, and to read at least one distance calculated in advance from the reference value from a memory for the determination of the respective shortest distance of a detected object.

An industrial locking switch comprises multiple locking tongue entry slots formed on adjacent sides of the locking switch housing, thereby supporting receipt of the corresponding locking tongue from multiple directions of approach without the need to mechanically modify the switch's head or to reorient the switch itself. The locking switch houses locking bolt detection circuity comprising multiple series connected RFID coils configured to detect an RFID tag mounted on the locking tongue when the locking tongue is inserted into any of the entry slots.

Traffic control systems and methods to improve safety are disclosed. The systems, in some example aspects, include a first magnetic field generator mounted over an aisle for generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone. The methods, in some example aspects, include generating a first zone magnetic field defining a first zone by a first magnetic field generator mounted over an aisle. Other aspects include generating, and/or including a controller to generate, control signals to reduce the speed of a vehicle, and/or reduce the size of a danger zone.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for mitigating collision occurrences on a drilling rig, of which an example of the method includes associating ultra wide band (UWB) tags with pieces of rig equipment and rig personnel. The tags are configured to communicate with one or more anchors. The method also includes determining interlock rules associated with each of the pieces of rig equipment, monitoring positions of the pieces of rig equipment and the rig personnel using the tags, in real-time, determining that one or more of the interlock rules are violated by a position of one or more of the pieces of rig equipment, rig personnel, or both, and, in response to determining that the one or more of the interlock rules are violated, at least partially disabling operation of one or more of the pieces of rig equipment.

Systems and methods for enhanced collection of training data for machine learning to improve worksite safety and operations. One embodiment is a system with an interface to instruct a user device of a user to capture first sensor data of an object performing one or more known actions. The system also includes a training controller to allocate points as an award to the user of the user device for correctly capturing the object performing the one or more known actions, and to generate an instruction for the user to capture second sensor data of the object performing one or more unknown actions if the user has exceeded a threshold of awarded points. The training controller trains a machine learning function based on the second sensor data of the object performing the one or more unknown actions as identified by the user having exceeded the threshold of awarded points.

A method for determining a protection zone with a protection radius about a wireless communication object transponder, wherein the method includes a) ascertaining a first indefinite position of the object transponder using a first locating system, b) ascertaining at least two definite anchor object distances between the object transponder and at least two anchor gateways with respective known positions via a definite distance measuring device using a two-way ranging method, and c) ascertaining the protection radius using a failsafe computing device which receives the first indefinite position from the first locating system and the at least two definite anchor object distances from the distance measuring device and determines the protection radius therefrom using the known positions of the at least two anchor gateways.

A safety system for a machine having a danger zone includes an induction coil having one or more turns extending along the periphery of a part of a worker's body as, for example, extending alone the fingers of a glove worn by the worker. A drive circuit applies a time-varying current having an identifiable characteristic such as the frequency of an alternating current. A magnetic field having the characteristic of the time-varying current is induced in an omnidirectional magnetic field sensor mounted adjacent the danger zone. The magnitude of this field is monitored. When the magnitude exceeds a threshold, a warning signal is issued and protective action may be taken, such as stopping or reversing the machine.

A safety system for use with a power tool that is usable by a user, the power tool including a base and a moving component that is movable relative to the base, includes a sensor assembly and a controller. The sensor assembly monitors a predetermined danger zone that is adjacent to the moving component of the power tool. The sensor assembly is configured to generate data relating to the predetermined danger zone. The controller receives the data from the sensor assembly and analyzes the data from the sensor assembly to determine if at least a portion of a hand of the user is present within the predetermined danger zone. The safety system can further include a wearable component including infrared only reflective material that is coupled to the hand of the user. The controller analyzes the data from the sensor assembly to determine if the wearable component is present within the predetermined danger zone.