Honeywell’s SMART Position Sensor portfolio includes one of the most accurate and durable non-contact positioning devices available in the industry. The SMART Position Sensor Arc Configurations, which join the 75 mm and 225 mm Linear Configurations launched in December 2009 and October 2010, respectively, sense the position of a magnet relative to a sensor in the following sensing ranges:

• 0° to 100°
• 0° to 180°
 

Value to Customers

( = competitive differentiator)

Reliable, durable
Easy to install
Cost effective
Adaptable
Lightweight
Self-diagnostics feature can reduce equipment downtime
Rugged
Flexible
Accurate
Combined patented MR sensor and ASIC technology enhances performance
 

Transportation

• Aerial work lift platforms: May be used to provide boom angle position which helps to prevent tipping on inclines and keeps the equipment within a safe extension range (envelope control), enhancing operator and bystander safety.
• Front end loaders: May be used to automate repetitive motion sequences, such dig-dump-dig, which then require only a single hit of a joy stick to repeat, improving efficiency and reducing operator stress. May also be used to provide bucket height position restriction which helps to avoid overhead power lines or other obstacles in the area (envelope control), enhancing operator safety.
• Diggers/excavators: May be used to provide digging arm position in order to provide real-time survey information along with the GPS (Global Positioning System) mounted on the digging equipment. A SMART Position Sensor Arc Configuration sensor is mounted on the digging arm. This position information is sent to an electronic control unit which uses this input, along with the location input from the GPS, to provide data on the equipment position and location, as well as hole width and depth, eliminating surveyor costs. The control unit can also calculate and convey cab/digger alignment to the operator in the cab, eliminating the need for the operator to twist his/her head to see the digger, especially in uneven environments, enhancing operator safety.
• Scissor lifts: May be used to provide lift angle, helping to ensure the platform is in an optimal position, enhancing operator and bystander safety.
• Refuse trucks: May be used to monitor the angle of a truck’s twin dumpster lifting arms. May also be used to provide position to the operator inside the cab who uses a joystick to manipulate automated reach arms to accurately pick up and empty smaller trash cans. One sensor can replace at least three proximity sensors, providing absolute position versus approximate position. The sensor’s non-contact technology increases product reliability and life in these dirty, tough environments.
• Mobile cranes: May be used to provide wheel angle on the mechanically-linked axes to help ensure equal tire wear, extending expensive tire life and saving replacement costs. Information may also be used to provide optimized, restriction-free wheel turning, especially in muddy construction sites, helping to prevent stuck equipment. The non-contacting technology on this equipment provided by this sensor is preferred by equipment renters.
• Timber harvester/processor equipment: May be used to provide continuous cutter arm angle to the on-board computer as the equipment processes the decreasing tree length, allowing the tree diameter and lumber volume to immediately be determined. Information also helps to ensure the floating cab is aligned with the cutter head, eliminating the need for the operator to twist his/her head, improving efficiency, enhancing operator safety and reducing operator stress.
• On-board loader weighing systems: May be used to provide loader bucket angle in order to help determine on-the-spot content weight which eliminates wasteful and time-consuming dumping onto a separate weighing site before loading into the truck bed, helping to prevent overloads, and saving fuel and labor costs.
 

Industrial

• Telescoping conveyor systems: May be used to provide conveyor elevation which helps to ensure the conveyor is at the optimal height to provide the correct mix of falling material containing uneven particles (i.e., dirt, gravel, ore) as it is processed off the conveyor into piles. This sensor’s durable and reliable non-contacting technology increases product life in these harsh environments.
• Automated touchless vehicle wash systems: May be used to provide position of the water spray arm that runs the length of the vehicle during the wash cycle, allowing the system to know when the arm has reached the end of the vehicle. This durable, IP67-sealed sensor replaces the proximity sensors that are currently used in this harsh environment, providing greater reliability and longer product life.
• Power generation: May be used to provide switching contact angle, ensuring contact has moved to the correct position through its 0° to 90° range. Information may also be used to determine contact speed, helping to identify slower contacts that may be wearing out, preventing possible catastrophic power failures.
• Rail-road crossing arms: May be used to provide crossing arm position, enhancing traffic safety. This sensor’s non-contact technology increases reliability and product life in this harsh environment.
 

Military

• Remote weapon systems: May be used to provide weapon elevation for a variety of targeting functions (i.e., 180° gun turret positioning, no-fire above a specified elevation) that may be controlled through a remote joy stick, helping to ensure firing accuracy.
• Chassis suspension systems: May be used to provide chassis position height which helps to ensure a level platform for the mounted equipment (i.e., gun/anti-aircraft missile system, mobile hospital), helping to ensure proper operation. This sensor’s non-contact technology provides long product life in these rugged operating environments.
• Military vehicle door position: May be used to provide position (open/close) of heavy, hydraulically-controlled doors. One sensor can replace the four limit switches currently used, significantly reducing set-up time, especially among different vehicle configurations.
 

Aerospace

• Ground-based solar panels: May be used to provide elevation and azimuth, enhancing control and operation.
• Ground-based satellite dishes: May be used to provide elevation and azimuth, enhancing control and operation.
 

Medical

• Robotically-assisted surgery equipment: May be used to provide position of the robotic arms that hold the articulated instrument tips, allowing the precise control that enables revolutionary minimally invasive surgical procedures.
• Patient bed elevation: May be used to monitor backrest elevation which helps to ensure proper angle, as well as automatic notification in the event the elevation exceeds or falls below a prescribed value, helping to ensure optimal backrest position as prescribed by individual patient’s medical condition.