RedCap TECHNOLOGY

Developed by Redcap Technolgy, a start-up hosted at Acceleratore d’Impresa of Milano Politecnico, as by the Electronic and Information Department, Angel InsideTM is an innovative system of active protection for the safety of garden operators. Functioning of Angel InsideTM is based on the measurement of variation of electric capacity between the chainsaw blade and the worker’s body, this is possible thanks to a sensor of capacity installed inside the chainsaw and two electric contacts placed on the surface, both on the blade and on the handle.

Angel InsideTM activates when the operator is on electric connection with the contact placed on the chainsaw handle: in this case the electric capacity between the two contacts coincide with the capacity between the worker body and the blade.

If the chainsaw blade gets closest to the worker, the electric capacity augments, and when it crosses a certain default value (self-adjusted according to the work conditions) it leads to the intervention of Angel InsideTM System that operates stopping the engine, leading to the stopping of the chainsaw chain, thanks to a clockwork brake.

The stopping is instantaneous: the time of responsiveness of the system is of

few dozens of milliseconds.

The “Redcap” project (aimed at experimentation on the fi eld of Angel InsideTM system) was supported both by INAIL (Italian National Institute against industrial accidents) and Milan Politecnico Foundation, that cooperate in a common program in order to promote initiatives for the prevention of

industrial accident. FIRST PROTOTYPES - At the end of July 2011 it was launched the initiative with the presentation of the fi rst prototypes of portable chainsaw (realized by two Italian constructors) equipped with the device, and last Autumn with a test by Corpo dei Vigili del Fuoco, in order to test the good functioning of the system also in the most difficult operative conditions. There are numerous potential use for the technologies developed by Redcap Technology in order to augment the safety level of work equipment, also in other fields such as construction, agroforestry, engineering industry, with a strong impact on the ethical and economical aspects of the market.

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