With its autover Independent Carrier System, the Beumer Group offers solutions for baggage handling challenges. On a passive rail system, intelligent transport vehicles called autoca carriers, which are driven by contactless power transmission, transport items of checked baggage safely to their correct destinations. The system is already in use at major airport hubs such as Dubai, Moscow, Nice, Gdansk and Montreal.
“With a throughput of up to 900 items of baggage per hour per transfer point, our system achieves a high handling speed,” says Beumer software engineer Michael Baumeister.
“Hundreds of autoca carriers can travel simultaneously at speeds of up to 10 metres per second along the rollercoaster-like rail system with its tight curves, steep inclines and declines of up to 18°, and long straights. Each carrier collects a single item of baggage, providing 100% tracking and traceability during transport.”
The second important factor besides reliable tracking is the correct positioning of baggage items. From check-in, items are carried by conveyor belt to the Beumer autover system. Before being picked up by a carrier, each piece of baggage is detected and measured by an O3D camera from ifm electronic positioned above the conveyor belt. The camera operates on the time-of-flight principle. While laser scanners use only one pixel for the measurement, the camera has 23 000 pixels arranged in a matrix; in this way, it can detect objects and scenes in three dimensions at a glance.
Optical detection improves performance
“We use the camera to check compliance with the permitted outer dimensions, that is, length, width and height of the baggage items,” says Baumeister. “We do this because we can reach physical limits when transporting baggage due to the very high transport speeds, for example in bends. This is why it is important for us to determine the baggage position, e.g. whether a suitcase is in an upright position before it enters our transport system. The ifm camera allows us to do this very reliably before loading.”
With the O3D camera from ifm, Beumer Group is able to ensure the correct placement of baggage items at a critical interface: the baggage transfer from the in-feeding conveyor belt to the independent carriers. The system can then fully harness its high degree of efficiency to the benefit of the airport operator, the airlines, and the passengers.
Next-generation condition monitoring
Sensors & Transducers
The next generation Sitrans MS200 multisensor from Siemens is setting new standards in condition monitoring.
Read more...Telco sensors for blocked/empty chute detection
Sensors & Transducers
Telco sensors overcome the problems of contaminated environments through powerful high-performance infrared sensors that ensure penetration of harsh pollution and guarantee reliable detectio
Read more...Cleaning solutions for optical sensors Endress+Hauser South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
Achieving accurate and continuous process visibility requires reliable sensor performance, even in challenging media. Endress+Hauser’s CYR51 mechanical cleaning unit addresses these challenges by providing stable, automated cleaning of turbidity and UV-Vis absorption sensors.
Read more...Machine health monitoring with ifm ifm - South Africa
Editor's Choice IT in Manufacturing
With ifm’s machine health monitoring, early signs of wear can be detected and unexpected failures prevented. Combined with equipment preventive maintenance software, interventions can be scheduled proactively to avoid costly downtime.
Read more...Next-generation gas meter module
Sensors & Transducers
Sensirion has launched its new gas meter module combining a low-power consumption mode, future-ready compatibility and seamless integration, all within the same compact form factor.
Read more...Food safety – a matter of weight
Sensors & Transducers
Weighing systems play a key role in ensuring product quality in food production, complying with legal requirements and avoiding product recalls. The Minebea Intec MiNexx portfolio has been specially developed to meet these requirements.
Read more...Telco sensors in the paper and pulp industry Gail Norton Instrumentation
Sensors & Transducers
The paper and pulp industry poses a major problem for most photoelectric sensors. Telco Sensors has overcome this with its powerful and high-performance photoelectric sensors, ensuring penetration of thick and harsh pollution while guaranteeing reliable detection.
Read more...Leaders in sensor technology Gail Norton Instrumentation
Sensors & Transducers
A new addition to the Telco Sensors range is the adjustable Proximity sensor, with a range up to 5 metres.
Read more...Cutting-edge sensor technology Endress+Hauser South Africa
Sensors & Transducers
The advantage of Endress+Hauser’s Memosens technology is that digitised measured values and sensor information are transmitted via a non-contact connection from the sensor to the cable, and as a digital signal to the transmitter.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.