Sinoboom Launches Advanced Collision Avoidance System for Scissors
Sinoboom has unveiled a new collision avoidance technology for scissor lifts and mast lifts, aimed at improving operator safety while overcoming some of the limitations associated with conventional single-sensor detection systems.
The company’s new Collision Avoidance Radar System (CARS) uses a combination of sensors mounted in a compact unit on the platform guardrail, linked directly to the machine’s control system. Designed to detect overhead obstructions, the system provides a two-stage warning process and can automatically restrict machine movements when a collision risk is identified.
A key advantage of the new system is its compatibility with both older and current-generation Sinoboom control platforms, allowing fleet owners to retrofit existing machines rather than limiting the technology to new equipment.
When an obstacle is detected between one and two metres above the platform, the first-stage warning is activated. Operators receive both audible and visual alerts through the CARS unit and the machine’s onboard alarm system. On newer control systems, drive and lift functions are also automatically reduced in speed.
If the obstacle is detected within one metre of the platform, the system moves to a second-stage response. At this point, lift and drive movements are automatically restricted while audible and visual alarms continue to operate, helping reduce the risk of contact with overhead hazards.
According to Sinoboom, the technology is intended to provide a practical alternative to physical protection systems, avoiding the clearance and access limitations often associated with overhead guarding. The warning distance can also be adjusted to accommodate operators of different heights, making it suitable for shared equipment and shift-based operations.
Sinoboom says the patented system delivers three key innovations:
- Dual-sensor technology: Combines an ultrasonic sensor offering ±20-degree coverage with a LiDAR sensor capable of detecting objects within a 0-3 metre range. The combination is claimed to reduce short-range measurement errors by up to 50 per cent.
- Adjustable calibration: Operators can customise warning distances based on their height and working environment. The primary warning range can be set between 0.6m and 2.5m, while the secondary warning maintains a one-metre safety buffer.
- Emergency override function: Allows operators to temporarily continue movements when necessary, with full protection automatically restored once the override button is released.
The launch follows the introduction of Sinoboom’s CARS technology for boom lifts in 2025, extending the collision avoidance platform across a broader range of access equipment.
Why it matters for Hire companies
For Hire fleet operators, the ability to retrofit the system across existing scissor lift fleets may provide a practical pathway to enhancing operator protection without replacing equipment. As work-at-height safety remains a major focus across construction, maintenance and industrial sectors, technologies that reduce the risk of overhead entrapment and collision incidents are likely to attract increasing attention from fleet owners and end users alike.
