EWP Harness Safety Prototype

The task is to turn my concept for an Elevating Work Platform safety module into a working prototype. The unit must confirm that an operator’s harness—fitted with an RFID tag—is positively engaged with the platform’s designated anchor point before power-up and continuously while the boom is in motion. If the reader ever loses that tag signal, the system must raise an immediate audible and visual alert; real-time notification is the single most critical feature for me.

Core approach
• Detection method: RFID tags embedded in each harness, with a rugged reader/antenna built into or beside the anchor point.
• Users and environment: construction workers on dusty, vibration-heavy sites, so the enclosure, connectors, and firmware watchdogs have to be equally tough.
• Optional but desirable: a dry-contact output (or CAN/Hydraulic interface) able to interlock the EWP controls when a non-compliant state persists.

Data & connectivity
Every session should be time-stamped, logged to local memory, and transmitted—BLE, Wi-Fi, or LTE—at the end of a shift for basic analytics: operator ID, on/off times, alarm events, and any override actions. A simple JSON post to an endpoint is fine; I’ll supply the server.

Deliverables
1. Functional prototype hardware and firmware capable of bench demonstration.
2. Wiring diagram, BOM with part numbers, and enclosure drawings.
3. Basic desktop or mobile app (or CLI) to show live tag status and export the compliance log.
4. Short video or live call to verify harness detection, real-time alert, and data upload in action.

Acceptance criteria
• Tag recognition or loss reported within 0.5 s.
• Alert sound level ≥ 85 dB at 1 m and flashing LED visible in daylight.
• Logged data survives a 24-hour power loss.

If you have experience in embedded electronics, RFID integration, and industrial safety systems, this should be a straightforward but rewarding build. I’m ready to approve parts quickly and arrange test harnesses and an EWP control panel for on-site trials.