Laser Height Pole Measurement Posted in: AR2700 High-Speed Long Range Sensor – Tags: Height Measurement, Profiling Measurement, Transportation

Laser Height Pole System Measures Overhead Structures at Highway Speeds

Oversized truck loads pose a challenge for our transportation infrastructure. Civil engineers have to pick a standard, and they simply can’t account for all potential non-standard loads. On top of that, with roughly 3.9 million miles of road in the US alone, it’s impossible to ensure that every potential hazard meets that standard 100% of the time. The ground shifts. Power cables droop. Trees grow. That’s what makes route surveys so critical not only for your cargo but the overall safety of our highways.

Traditionally, to protect against oversized loads striking overhanging hazards, a height pole attached to a pilot car would be used to survey the road to ensure the load won’t hit any hazards on its transit. That is a simple solution, but it has drawbacks. Monitoring the height pole requires skill and intense concentration, and human error is possible for even the best. Adding an automated, height sensor can help provide redundancy and security that will reduce the chance of accidents, help your bottom line, and make our roads a safer place.

That’s where our AR2700 comes in. The AR2700 High-Speed Long Range Sensor is an infrared laser distance sensor that can take up to 40,000 measurements per second, fast enough to detect the heights of potential hazards like power cables at highway speeds. With an accuracy of +/- 2.5 inches* (60 mm), it won’t leave you guessing. The laser itself is certified as Class 1 and completely eye safe, and since it is infrared and invisible, there is no flashblinding risk to airplanes or other motorists even in the worst case scenario, and is completely safe to be used around airports.

The AR2700 offers both RS232 and RS422 serial outputs and a 4-20 mA analog output to allow integration of the data stream into any system you’re currently using. It also has 2 alarm outputs that can trigger warning lights or alarms at measurement thresholds that you configure. All this comes in a sensor smaller than two decks of playing cards.

Whether you’re looking for a backup to your high pole, seeking an alternative to your high pole, or looking to collect comprehensive route data or road height measurement for future needs, the AR2700 is a great option. It can help ensure your pilot car is meeting and exceeding all requirements expected of them.

* Accuracy is +/- 4 inches (100 mm) for targets more than 230 feet (70 meters) and less than 3 feet (1 meter) from the sensor. If you’re measuring the road height for a load that needs 230 feet of clearance, you’re going to have a lot of things to think about in your pilot car!

If you would like to learn more about this application or other laser measurement sensors for a similar application, please contact Acuity Laser.