Patent ID: 8477021

Claim:
A proximity warning and collision avoidance system, comprising: an established safe zone within a work environment within which a machine is safe to work; an established hazard zone within the work environment within which the machine is restricted; an operator interface comprising a first group of visual indicators including a low level indicator and a high level indicator, a second group of visual indicators including a low level indicator and a high level indicator, an audio indicator operable at a first volume and at a second volume, and operator inputs configured to receive selections from an operator; a controller in communication with said operator interface, and configured to control the operator interface to illuminate said low level indicator of said first group of visual indicators and to operate said audio indicator at said first volume when a hazard approaches within a predetermined distance from a perimeter of said established safe zone; said controller further configured to control the operator interface to illuminate said high level indicator of said first group of visual indicators and to operate said audio indicator at said second volume when the hazard enters within said perimeter of said established safe zone; said controller further configured to control the operator interface to illuminate said low level indicator of said second group of indicators and to operate said audio indicator at said first volume when the machine approaches within a predetermined distance from a perimeter of said established hazard zone; and said controller further configured to control the operator interface to illuminate said high level indicator of said second group of indicators and to operate said audio indicator at said second volume when the machine enters within said perimeter of said established hazard zone.