John Deere Launches SmartDetect for Utility and Production Class Loaders

John Deere has announced the release of SmartDetect for select utility-class and production-class loaders. Building upon John Deere object detection and vision solutions, utilizing a combination of cameras, radar and machine learning tools, SmartDetect technology is designed to support overall situational awareness, providing informed visibility to an operator’s surroundings. 

“SmartDetect is a crucial addition to our portfolio of precision construction technology solutions, designed to help operators confidently navigate and maximize productivity on busy construction sites," said Katie Voelliger, product marketing manager at John Deere. "Safety is a shared responsibility, and we’re excited to continue developing solutions that empower operators to work more safely and effectively.”

Prioritizing operator visibility, perception and awareness, SmartDetect combines cameras and machine learning to help give operators a view of their surroundings. SmartDetect utilizes the machine’s integrated digital cameras and a dedicated rearview high-resolution monitor to supplement operator’s jobsite visibility. The stereo camera on the rear of the machine enables depth perception to identify and classify known objects for awareness.

The SmartDetect system alerts operators when an object enters the machine’s projected travel path and provides detection alerts for the operator, as well as people in the camera’s field of view. With this perception system, visual cues and bounding boxes are shown to the operator, helping distinguish and highlight types of obstacles. By identifying fixed or moving objects such as people, poles, structures or other machinery, vision technology provides information to the operator.

“Our customers continue to tell us technology solutions that assist operators in identifying the most valued asset on their jobsites, their people, is an area of high importance to them,” said Nathan Demski, Jobsite Safety product manager, John Deere. “Operators work long days and it’s not easy for them to remain at the peak of situational awareness throughout the day. SmartDetect is another tool in the toolbox that they can use to help improve their confidence and be more aware of what's around them on the jobsite.”

Field Kits to incorporate SmartDetect are available for select utility- and production-class loader models already equipped with the John Deere Advanced Vision System and Advanced Object Detection technology.