Pilz: PSENradar Safe Radar Sensor
August 26, 2022
The safe radar sensor PSENradar, in conjunction with the configurable small controller PNOZmulti 2, offers a safe, complete solution for protection zone monitoring – including conformity assessment for the plant or machine.
Safe radar sensors are used where optoelectronic sensors reach their limits: rugged environments, such as outdoors or in material processing for example, can be monitored safely using PSENradar. That’s because radar technology (FMCW: frequency modulated continuous wave) ensures high availability even where there are external influences such as dust, dirt, rain, light, sparks or vibrations.
The underlying volumetric monitoring with a frequency of 24 – 24.25 GHz can be used up to SIL 2, PL d and Category 3, which is often a requirement in robot applications. The complete solution also has additional interfaces, such as Ethernet and Profisafe, so making it easy to use the safety radar sensor in retrofit applications.
Benefits of the safe radar sensor PSENradar
- – Insensitive to dust, dirt, rain, light, sparks, steam and vibrations
- – High category Cat. 3 / PL d enables robotics applications to be safeguarded
- – High flexibility thanks to optimised sensor alignment and individual protection zone configuration
- – Safe complete solution with small controller PNOZmulti 2; open to retrofit applications thanks to additional interfaces
- – Rear access protection to prevent the machine restarting when there are people in the danger zone
Simple configuration with the PSENradar Configurator
For rapid commissioning, the sensors are selected and configured simply via the appropriate Configurator. Depending on the application, the safe radar sensor solution includes up to six radar sensors, one control unit and the configurable, safe small controller PNOZmulti 2.
The appropriate protection zone can be defined for each sensor, based on the size of the area to be monitored. This depends on the positioning, installation height and inclination of the sensor. A warning zone can also be configured in addition to the protection zone. If a person violates the warning zone, this may be signalled by an optical signal, for example. This way, productivity of the plant can always be kept at a high level.
Applications with PSENradar
Radar sensors are used in a wide range of industries, particularly where optoelectronic sensors reach their limits. A prerequisite for their use is an overall assessment of the machine, which we are happy to help with.
Safety-related functions covered by the safe radar system PSENradar include danger zone monitoring and rear access protection. While danger zone monitoring brings the machine to a safe state as soon as someone enters, for example, rear access protection prevents the machine restarting automatically if there are people still in the danger zone, in a maintenance situation for example. You’ll find some application examples below.
The radar sensors have a self-teaching background function, so, for example, material waste can be deposited without violating the protection zone and bringing the machine to a stop. That guarantees higher productivity.
Safe protection zone monitoring of robotics applications
For safe protection zone monitoring of robotics applications, particularly in rugged environments, another sensor is now available for the safe radar system PSENradar: PSEN rd1.2 with the equally new analysing unit PSEN rd1.0 I/O PS ETH , which covers Category 3 / PL d. So, in conjunction with the modular safety relay myPNOZ, you have a safe, complete solution for safeguarding robotics applications.
