Specialists from the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen have developed protective aid that will increase the safety of people in risky workplaces. It is a solar energy warning vest, integrated light goggles and shoes that protect against so-called stepping stress.
The active-light warning vest does not differ from the usual reflective vests. But the key difference is that the vest is equipped with an active line lighting system with four LEDs as light sources.
“The line light is better visible than the spotlight in the dark. But our main benefit is the flexible photovoltaic panels located on the back of the vest that recharge the battery for the lighting system, “explains Radek from the Regional Innovation Center of Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen.
They have worked with two International companies to develop protective equipment. Thanks to the battery, which is in the breast pocket and is removable, the vest remains out of reach of sunlight for about twenty hours.
An emergency safety feature is also an important safety feature. The danger can be noted by pressing the button on the control unit in the vest pocket. Emergency status is then signaled by blinking light, which is useful, for example, in noisy operations.
“Ensuring security with active lighting is currently a global trend and is being addressed by major companies with global reach,” says executive director Milan.
The cost of the vest should vary from one to two thousand crowns, it is more expensive than the usual one which is made of reflective tapes and fluorescence fabric. The market should come this year. Another of Pilsen developer’s tools are gloves with integrated lighting.
“We assume their broad application, for example, in the automotive industry. In many cases, the laborer at work must have both hands free but at the same time he needs to shine. When it has a headlamp or other light, it shines hands. Thanks to integrated LED gloves, this problem avoids, “explains Radek. The third said that RICE researchers have helped to develop is shoe protectors.
“Shoes may alert the worker to the occurrence of a dangerous phenomenon that arises in the vicinity of the earth on a falling wire of high voltage or, for example, a lightning strike. Walking in the direction of a dangerous place creates dangerous contact tension between the legs simultaneously with the touching country. According to the standard, the value per person is 50 volts per meter. Shoes are able to evaluate its excesses and give the user an acoustic and visual indication that they must move away from a dangerous source. “says Soukup.
Electrodes that the stepping voltage are located in the soil and to the evaluation electronics located on the tongue of the shoe. “At the moment, we have a complete prototype. Now is the next step to make further samples that will be tested and test reflective materials in real terms. “concludes from Tomas.