New rubbish trucks which could better protect people walking and riding on paths have hit the road in southern Tasmania.
Kingborough Council’s waste collection provider Veolia has introduced the trucks across the municipality, which Southern Regional Manager Chris Dickinson believes are the first of their kind in Australia.
Cameras are attached to trucks to help with blind spots and to record the bin collection, but these trucks also have AI cameras on their left-hand side close to the extendable arm.
The cameras can spot someone walking or riding on a path towards a truck as its arm is about to extend to pick up a bin and then trigger an alarm inside and outside the truck and either lock or retract the arm.
Chris said the safety system would be particularly useful in areas where children are riding and walking to school and can be oblivious to the dangers posed by the mechanical arm reaching toward the path.
AI cameras are also being trialled to pick up potholes, graffitti and vandalism on the collection runs to send back to the relevant council for action. There is also the capability for AI to be used to ensure dangerous bin items like gas bottles and paint aren’t being added to a load.
Chris said it’s not common for bicycle riders to pass on the road on the left of the trucks when operating, but if it did happen the cameras could sound an alarm and stop the arm if the truck is operating at under 5 km/h.
Heavy vehicles like rubbish trucks have significant blind spots that people riding and walking sometimes don’t understand.
We went for a ride with Michael on the morning run through Taroona and saw the complexity of tasks he has to juggle. Navigating narrow streets in low light without hitting parked cars; positioning to pick up bins that are too close to each other, poles or cars; checking front, back and side cameras and mirrors; operating the extendable arm and then checking the cameras to ensure bin contents aren’t dangerous. There’s a lot going on!
Many trucks have the sign “if you can’t see my mirrors I can’t see you” but there is also a blind spot alongside the side of the truck that mirrors and cameras can’t always pick up. Never pass a truck on its inside or while it’s turning, and always keep a wide berth when passing.
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