Caterpillar uses facial recognition software to identify sleepy equipment operators
When it comes to heavy equipment, Caterpillar is a household name. If it is big and moves earth and rocks, there’s a good chance it has “Caterpillar” stamped on its side. This is especially true when it comes to mining equipment, where dump trucks (known in this context as haul trucks), can sport 12-foot-tall tires. These are some of the largest vehicles on earth, and operators require built-in stairs and ladders to reach the cab.
Even with the most alert driver, incidents are scaled up along with vehicle size. These trucks can roll right over a normal sized passenger vehicle and flatten it, and operators would feel like they hit a small bump. In the past, these trucks have rolled down embankments that were not perceived from the height of the cab, killing the occupants. These rolling behemoths also pose a constant risk to the lives of others on the site, even from the slightest mistake. Absolute concentration and situational awareness is vital for the operators.