Hamm Launched Brake Assist System for Tandem Rollers
The active safety technology uses LiDAR to detect construction site obstacles and trigger automated braking interventions.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Robotics
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Hamm has released a new Brake Assist safety system for its HX series tandem rollers that leverages roof-mounted LiDAR sensors to identify people and objects in the machine's path. This feature is currently available on the company's HX line of equipment.
Why it matters
The system is designed to improve construction site safety by automating collision prevention, addressing a significant risk area for heavy machinery operation. It integrates machine telemetry with environmental sensing to provide active protection for workers.
The Brake Assist system uses roof-mounted LiDAR sensors to monitor the machine's surroundings, employing 3 distinct stages of operational intervention. It evaluates risk factors including steering angle, speed, travel direction, working width, and track offset.
The players
Hamm
A brand of the Wirtgen Group specializing in the design and manufacture of high-performance road construction rollers.
Wirtgen Group
An international engineering company that produces machinery for road construction and mineral processing.
The details
The system functions by generating real-time imagery of the machine's vicinity via LiDAR—a remote sensing method that uses pulsed laser light to measure distances. Based on the proximity of detected obstacles, the onboard controller executes a graduated response, ranging from speed reduction to controlled deceleration and full emergency stops.
Timeline
October 1, 2026: Hamm launched the Brake Assist safety system.
The Tech Race
This integration follows the industry-wide move toward active safety features as mandated by evolving machine-safety requirements for heavy construction equipment. Hamm’s implementation reflects a growing focus on using LiDAR to achieve higher levels of machine autonomy on complex, busy job sites.
Construction crews operating the HX series tandem rollers now have access to automated safety interventions that reduce the reliance on manual visual observation alone. Operators will see machine behavior adjust automatically when the LiDAR system detects objects in the work path.
The takeaway
This release marks a meaningful shift toward active safety as a standard feature in road construction machinery. Site managers should monitor subsequent product announcements from Hamm to determine when this sensor suite will reach other rollers in their existing fleet.
What happens next
The Wirtgen Group has indicated that additional Hamm machinery models will receive the Brake Assist system in future updates.
Further reading
For more on the latest trends in autonomous site equipment, visit Robotics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Construction Business News Middle East.
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