VEHICLE SAFETY CONTROLLER

Wireless Industrial Safety Device for Autonomous Systems and More

Industrial Wireless Safety Device

The FORT Vehicle Safety Controller (VSC) is a wireless safety device for autonomous systems, mobile heavy equipment, and fixed machinery. For applications where wired connections are expensive, dangerous, or impractical, the VSC provides a safe and reliable wireless solution.

Built for Machine Safety

The on-machine VSC pairs with FORT’s Safe Remote Control and/or Wireless E-Stop and acts as the receiver for those systems. With patented communication technology and industry-leading safety architecture, the VSC is built from the ground up for maximum reliability.

Patented wireless system for critical commands

Dual-wired emergency stop loop with active diagnostics

Master enable relays for e-stop circuit integration or direct load control

Internal master enable fault detection

Wirless E-Stop Bridge

The versatile VSC can be configured as an input, output, or bridge. As an e-stop input, it can be used to safely incorporate fixed e-stop buttons, door switches or other wired safety devices into your wireless network, allowing you to stop multiple machines with a single wireless command.

Use FORT’s configuration tool to design your system and assign a care list of inputs to each VSC. Once paired, the units stay in constant two-way communication with one another, using rapid frequency hopping to avoid any risk of interference. The electrical safety loop circuit with diagnostics provides convenient integration.

Vehicle Safety Controller in Action

Challenge: Safety for Warehouse AMRs

A leading producer of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) contacted FORT to help solve a safety challenge for one of their warehouse clients. The client had multiple robots operating within a gated area, and needed a reliable way to stop all of them when a person entered that zone. The solution had to:

Stop all of the robots at once
Adhere to industry safety requirements
Be easy to use
Have a highly dependable wireless signal that limits potential interference

Solution: VSCs on Robots and Entry Gate

A VSC was installed on each of the AMRs, and a “master” VSC was installed on the door to the caged area. The master controller maintains constant two-way communication with each of the robot VSCs via FORT’s patented wireless communication technology.

When the door is opened, it automatically sends a safety-rated e-stop signal to every robot, stopping them instantly.

CAN Bus Bridge

Two VSCs can be configured as a Wireless CAN Bus Bridge between any two CAN networks, including networks with different bitrates. Supports any CAN bus standard including CANopen and J1939. Ideal for forestry and other long-range outdoor applications.

Learn More About Wireless CAN Bridging

Technical Specifications

900 Mhz radio: up to 2km line of sight range
2.4Ghz radio: up to 500m line of sight range
Designed to meet ISO 13849 PLd, Cat 3

IP66 (NEMA 4X) enclosure
Embedded versions also available
Power input: 9 to 36 VDC

Integration

Safety elements integrate via a dual channel electrical safety circuit.
Standard control elements and optional status information integrate via CAN J1939, RS-232, or USB.
Easy-to-use software tool for system configuration.
Sample applications available to help accelerate software development.

Connector Options

Ecomate RM for Power, Estop I/O, RS232, and CAN interfaces, Sealed Mini-USB AB, and RP-SMA antenna connector.
MIL-DTL-38999 19 pin for Power, Estop I/O, RS232, and CAN interfaces, MIL-DTL-38999 6 pin for USB, and RP-SMA antenna connector.

For more technical details, please contact us below.

Learn More

Speak with an expert for Vehicle Safety Controller pricing and information.