In developing the new security light curtain, deTec4 Prime, the development team also paid close attention to user-friendliness and conducted practical tests. The team worked with staff from the Usability Capability Centre at Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences to test samples and investigated how test subjects mastered the operation of deTec4 Prime in routine usability studies.
The purpose of the test was to confirm whether SICK's customers and service staff could understand the deTec4 Prime solution. To find the answer to this question, staff at the Usability Capability Center of Fortwangen University of Applied Sciences first made some assumptions about which operational steps users might encounter problems with. These assumptions were then systematically tested in the test.
“Overall, the test results indicate that the solution is understandable. However, we still found clear optimization methods for the product and technical information,” Dr. Gerhard Kirchner, Professor of Economic Engineering at Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences, summarized the analysis and test results. “All test subjects had to complete the same task,” explained Lena Neuman, a staff member at the Usability Engineering and Research Center at Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences, regarding the testing methodology. “We specified a standard procedure in the testing guidelines, during which we not only observed how the test subjects worked but also presented specific task requirements, and this was the same for all test subjects. We filmed the entire process, recorded the observations, and summarized and prioritized them according to problem type during the analysis.”
The information obtained in this way was used by the deTec4 Prime development team for further optimization of the safety light curtain. One of the results is the ingenious yet simple connector design. Furthermore, by optimizing the visual management of the integrated laser and alignment display, the light curtain can be debugged much faster, and the connection requirements for cascaded systems have been minimized.
Focus on customer needs
In consumer products, such as smartphones, ease of use combined with an attractive design is key to market success. User-friendliness has become one of the most important criteria in product comparison testing.
“People may think usability isn’t that important for industrial products, but in reality, this factor is becoming increasingly important: good ergonomics and appropriate product information not only contribute to safety and productivity but also help achieve attractive designs,” describes Professor Robert Schäflein-Armbruster, Director of the Usability Competency Centre at Fortwangen University of Applied Sciences, describing his observations. “Usability must play a crucial role, especially in safety. If you operate a coffee machine incorrectly, you get an espresso instead of the latte you wanted. But if you operate a machine, equipment, or safety device incorrectly, then there are real safety issues. If a product doesn’t provide clear feedback and the user mistakenly believes it’s safe, then the risk begins from installation. There’s also the issue of misuse: misuse occurs when a product doesn’t conform to natural and ideal usage. Therefore, it must be precisely tailored to the people using the product, and the design of the product and related information should eliminate any motivation or necessity for misuse.”
Higher complexity requires higher ease of use
"The more complex the system, the higher the requirements for ease of use. Mentally speaking, it's to ensure the system functions perfectly," is Professor Kirchner's view on future autonomous control and networked production. "If multiple large machines interact and tasks are transferred back and forth, then I must know for sure whether everything is working properly."
With the help of modern data technologies, systems, especially complex ones, can be designed virtually and then validated through simulation models. Usability elements, with a focus on security, can be considered during the design phase. Virtual engineering and usability can then work together. By obtaining results and clear feedback more quickly during the development phase, alternative product solutions can be developed earlier.
External perspectives: Professor Robert Schäflein-Armbruster, Head of the Usability Capability Centre at Fortwangen University of Applied Sciences, and Dr. Lena Neumann and Professor Gerhard Kirchner
deTec4 Prime: Availability Proven
Safety light curtains like the deTec4 Core and deTec2 Core have already simplified the protection of hazardous work sites and entry points like never before. The latest deTec4 Prime takes this a step further.
The new safety light curtain, deTec4 Prime, takes the success of the deTec4 Core solution to a new level. deTec4 Prime integrates all the features of the existing safety light curtain into a single device and adds new functionalities. It also retains the slim, space-saving design of the Core version.
The deTec4 safety light curtain is an electrical-sensitive protection device that meets the performance level "e" of EN ISO 13849 and the requirements of IEC 61508 SIL3.
Functionality can be this simple: Safety Light Curtain deTec4 Prime
Stepped protection zone height
Using deTec safety light curtains, 13 different protection zone heights ranging from 300 mm to 2100 mm can be achieved with an adjustable step size of 150 mm. The deTec product family can provide suitable solutions for every application, and the versatile deTec4 Prime is a standout among them. Combined with flexible connectivity options, the deTec4 Prime can meet almost all common application needs.
Better performance stems from less wiring and intelligent standardization
For adjacent machines, beam coding is achieved via DIP switches to reduce interference between safety light curtains. Up to three systems can be cascaded for presence protection, reducing wiring costs and safety inputs in the switch cabinet. Local reset functionality also reduces wiring costs and programming work in the controller. T-connectors allow for connection of the switch cabinet and status displays on the transmitter and receiver with a single wire, further reducing costs and minimizing downtime. Four additional system plugs are available for configuring the deTec4 Prime with the required functions. Configuration is software-free, simplifying inventory management and saving costs.
Rapid debugging is achieved through an integrated laser and alignment display.
With integrated LED indicators and various diagnostic functions, all deTec safety light curtains save significant time and cost during commissioning. During commissioning, the deTec4 automatically matches the accurate effective distance. The integrated alignment display on the new deTec4 Prime ensures faster and more reliable mutual positioning between the transmitter and receiver with four LED indicators, achieving automatic calibration with a resolution of 30 mm and an effective distance of up to 24 m. Four blue LED indicators display the "green zone" in the "Safety Technology" section.
“In many ways, in this era of change, at our current stage, a wealth of empirical data is invaluable, giving people confidence that they are on the right track,” said Professor Robert Schäflein-Armbruster, head of the Usability Capability Centre at Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences.
Rugged and reliable: IP 67 protection rating, operating ambient temperature down to –30°C
Thanks to protection ratings of IP 65 and IP 67 and an operating temperature range of –30°C to +55°C, the new safety light curtain is also suitable for use in harsh environments. The integration of metal and plastic components within an impact-resistant housing allows the deTec safety light curtain to withstand the most demanding requirements. Its impact resistance and extremely robust transparent protective cover ensure safe and reliable operation even under extreme conditions.
The innovative support system is easy to install without blind spots.
With the innovative Flexfix bracket, all deTec safety light curtains can be installed on different models of machines within minutes. The installed light curtain can be rotated within the Flexfix bracket before final fixing, creating a continuous protection zone extending to the end of the housing.
Whether in the automotive, auto parts, and packaging industries, or in the machinery and equipment manufacturing sectors, the sustainability of functional safety technologies is primarily reflected in two aspects: rapid commissioning significantly accelerates equipment efficiency, and uninterrupted production improves equipment economics. The design and configuration capabilities of the new safety light curtain, deTec4 Prime, have already taken this into account. deTec4 Prime elevates this successful solution in the safety light curtain field to a higher level.
