Collision Avoidance - What is it?

In general, Collision Avoidance (or "anti-collision") is a 'best attempt' at preventing two vehicles from colliding while in a conveyorized car wash environment.  

Conveyorized systems move vehicles through the wash with no driver interaction required or desired.  They accomplish this in several ways; by pushing a vehicle ("rear wheel push"), by pulling a vehicle ("front wheel pull"), or by belt conveyance.

As the vehicles move through the wash, on occasion circumstances may result such that the lead vehicle (the one furthest down the wash system) is no longer moving forward as expected.  However, the trailing vehicles (the second, third etc) are still moving forward.

This most typically happens at the end of the wash; the driver has been informed their wash is complete, that its time to put their vehicle in Drive, and now must pull away manually.  When the driver fails to comply, and their vehicle remains stationary, a potential vehicle collision situation has been created.

The Cruz Control Car Wash Controller will, when configured correctly and when the sensing device is functioning properly, detect this situation, halt the conveyor and alert the operator.  By halting the conveyor, all trailing vehicles have been stopped, and the potential collision has been avoided.  

The Cruz Control Car Wash Controller understands where all vehicles should be in the system.  This information is calculated as the vehicle enters the wash, and triggers the Discrete Input - Type - 15 - Photo Eye, or "gate".  Software then maintains vehicle presence and location as the vehicle progresses.  As the Anti-Collision input triggers on and off, indicating physical vehicle presence and absence (Discrete Input - Type - 17 - Anti-Collision) if it does so as the software expects, all is well and the system proceeds as normal.  However, if the sensor remains triggered, and if the software determines the 'next vehicle' is within Setup Options - Anti-Collision distance, the system will fire a collision event and halt the conveyor.

While in this halted state, the system alerts the operator.  Once the issue has been resolved and the physical input indicates vehicle absence, the system will sound the warning horn, restart the conveyor and resume washing vehicles as usual.