To be honest, the issues we've encountered at logistics companies recently are very real.
Counterbalanced forklifts often get stuck between shelves in warehouses, especially with those irregularly shaped pallets. Fork tines can't seem to fit into them. In a day, just these small issues can waste several hours, significantly reducing efficiency.
Outdoor operations are even more troublesome. On rainy days, the forklift's perception system becomes unstable, often leading to misjudgments and sometimes even damaging the cargo.
Frankly, these issues are essentially sensor-related. We need a LiDAR that can clearly see the surrounding environment and reliably operate in all kinds of weather conditions.
Actual Pain Points
Identifying ultra-wide pallets is a headache
The pallets in the warehouse come in all shapes and sizes, making them inconsistent. Old radar systems often fail to recognize such irregular cargo, sometimes not recognizing them at all.
Remember that there was a 1.8-meter-wide irregular pallet that caused a forklift to stall, resulting in significant damage when the forks collided with it.
Challenges of indoor-outdoor environmental changes
Our forklifts need to operate between indoor warehouses and outdoor sites, where the environmental differences are significant. Indoor lighting conditions are complex, and outdoors, we often encounter rainy and foggy weather, where traditional vision solutions often fail.
Especially during the plum rain season, rain can cause a large number of noise points in the sensors, leading to the system failing to operate normally.
Need for obstacle avoidance with dynamic objects
In the factory environment, there are not only static cargo and shelves but also other AGVs, pedestrians, and other dynamic obstacles. Forklifts need to sense these moving targets in real-time, adjust their paths accordingly, and ensure safe operations.
M360's Solution
The Advantages of 70-Degree Vertical Field of View
The vertical field of view of the Tengtong M360 reaches 70 degrees, which is 11 degrees more than the traditional solution. Don't underestimate these 11 degrees; they make a significant difference in practical use.
The data above is used for ceiling positioning. In warehouses, the shelves all look similar, making the ceiling the most reliable positioning reference.
The data below is used for obstacle detection. The M360's 5-centimeter ultra-near blind zone can even see objects close to the ground, which is extremely important for forklift operations.
A single system solving two problems, offering great value for money.
Precision Improvement with 5cm Ultra-Near Blind Zone
During operations, there are often various small obstacles around the forklift's undercarriage—packaging materials, tools, scattered parts, etc.
The M360's blind zone is only 5 centimeters, half that of traditional radar. In actual tests, we found that the M360 can detect those previously ignored small obstacles, avoiding many collision accidents.
The Advantage of <4.5W Low Power Consumption
Forklift batteries have limited capacity, and power consumption directly affects working time. The power consumption of the M360 is controlled below 4.5 watts, which is 30% lower than the traditional solution.
In our actual tests, forklifts equipped with the M360 had a 20% longer working time than those using the traditional solution, covering a larger working area with the same battery capacity.
This is particularly valuable for forklift fleets that require continuous operation for 8 hours.
The practical value of dual echo penetration technology
Rain and fog have always been pain points in industrial logistics. Traditional radar often produces a large number of noise points or directly loses targets in such conditions.
The dual echo mode of the M360 performs well in this aspect. In a recent factory project, during the plum rain season, the forklift's perception system still operated normally, penetrating through raindrops to detect obstacles.
This is very helpful in ensuring that logistics tasks are completed on time and that operations are not interrupted due to weather conditions.
Actual application effects
Improved accuracy in ultra-wide pallet recognition
After being equipped with the M360, our recognition accuracy for ultra-wide pallets has increased from the original 78% to 95%. The system can accurately outline the contours of irregular goods, achieving precise insertion and handling.
Especially for cylindrical and irregularly shaped goods, the M360 can accurately identify them, reducing the likelihood of goods being damaged.
Enhanced adaptability to indoor and outdoor environments
The IP67 rating of the M360 is fully adapted to industrial environments, with dust and humidity not affecting its operation. In outdoor conditions with rain or snow, the dual echo technology ensures system stability.
Our forklift fleet can now operate around the clock, unaffected by weather and environmental conditions.
Increased operational efficiency
In actual use, we found that forklifts equipped with the M360 have seen a 25% increase in operational efficiency in complex environments. Stable navigation brings higher operational efficiency, with a 25% increase in the amount of goods handled within the same time frame.
This improvement is very noticeable during peak periods of logistics operations.
Technical parameter comparison
| Parameter items | Actual performance of the M360 | Comparison with traditional solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical FOV | 70° | Offers an additional 11° over traditional solutions |
| Near-field blind zone | 5cm | Half the size of traditional solutions |
| Power consumption | <4.5W | 30% lower than traditional solutions |
| IP rating | IP67 | Fully dust and waterproof |
| Echo mode | Optional dual echo | Traditional single echo |
| Power supply range | 12~32V | Broader voltage compatibility |
To be honest, these parameters are more than just numbers. The 5cm blind zone allows us to detect previously unseen small obstacles, avoiding countless collisions.
Actual cost calculation
From a cost of use perspective, while the M360 has a higher unit price, it actually turns out to be more cost-effective in the long run:
- Hardware investmentOne system solves both positioning and obstacle avoidance, no need to purchase multiple sensors.
- Maintenance costsFewer failures, the number of manual interventions has been reduced by half.
- Operational efficiencyExtended battery life, operation time is also prolonged.
We did a simple calculation and found that after using the M360, the annual maintenance cost for each forklift can be reduced by about 20%.
When is it worth choosing the M360?
Based on our experience over the past few months, the M360 is particularly suitable for:
- Large warehouse logisticsParticularly suitable for warehouses with a large number of extra-wide skids.
- Operations both indoors and outdoorsNot affected by rainy days, operates around the clock.
- Dusty environmentsThe IP67 rating ensures reliable protection against dust, no worries about it.
- Multiple forklift operationsGood sensor fusion, no issues with collaborative operations.
If you are involved in lightweight indoor robots and are sensitive to weight and volume, it's still best to opt for a lighter solution.
However, for scenarios such as industrial logistics and forklifts that require high reliability, the M360 is indeed a good choice.
Implementation Suggestions
If you are considering using the M360 on forklifts, here are a few suggestions:
- Preliminary testing is crucialIt is recommended to conduct small-scale tests in similar environments first to verify the actual effect.
- Parameter configuration needs to be reasonableAdjust scanning parameters according to specific application scenarios to balance accuracy and performance.
- Sensor fusion should be well-managedIt is recommended to combine with visual and other sensors to enhance overall perception capabilities.
- Maintenance and care should keep upAlthough the M360 is very reliable, regular cleaning and maintenance are still important.
To be honest, after using the M360 for a few months, it has indeed solved many practical problems. The M360 performs well in scenarios where traditional solutions fail.
If you are also looking for a LiDAR that can truly enhance forklift performance, we recommend focusing on the M360. Of course, the specific choice should be considered in combination with your project requirements and budget. TanTong ZhiXing's M360 may be the solution you are looking for.