Samsara Launches 360-Degree Camera for Heavy Equipment, Expands AI Multicam and Two-Way Voice

Source: Samsara ↗

Heavy-equipment operators running excavators, forklifts, baggage tugs and pushbacks in open cabs have had no camera system built for their machines, until Samsara Inc. introduced the 360 Camera, new AI Multicam capabilities and two-way voice through its dash cam platform on June 24.

The 360 Camera is a single-module unit that captures a full 360-degree view from one mount point with interactive pan and zoom. It is built to withstand harsh weather and rough operating conditions and is designed for construction sites, warehouses, mines and airport ramps. Samsara positions it as the first camera system built specifically for operated equipment in those environments.

“The 360 Camera brings first-to-market visibility to operated equipment, AI Multicam gives road fleet drivers sharper awareness of what surrounds them, and two-way voice means the AI can respond the moment a question arises.” said Johan Land, chief product officer at Samsara. “Millions of frontline workers show up every day to keep our world running, and we are fully committed to helping get every one of them home safely.”

Mehdi Jnah, director of ground support equipment at Alaska Airlines, said the airline plans to apply the 360 Camera across its full range of ramp equipment. “Baggage tractors, tugs, pushbacks — each with its own unique demands and operating procedures.” Jnah said. “Now, not only can we see it all, we have real-time access to the evidence we need to move from incident report to root cause in minutes.”

On the road-fleet side, Samsara expanded its AI Multicam system with two new capabilities. Bird’s Eye View lets drivers configure a top-down, 360-degree composite view of their immediate surroundings using AI Multicam during high-contact-risk maneuvers in crowded yards, narrow spaces and tight turns; Samsara says it is particularly relevant for school buses, garbage trucks, yellow iron and box trucks. Rear Collision Warning and Vehicle in Blind Spot Detection add dynamic audio and visual alerts when reversing or changing lanes, processed on the device at the edge so warnings reach drivers in the moment.

Two-way voice turns the dash cam into a communication channel in both directions. When a driver enters a geofenced area, Samsara AI can engage the driver through the cam to flag a lower speed limit, a parking restriction or a known towing risk without a dispatcher call. Managers can also initiate a call through the same channel independent of the driver’s phone or cell signal, and drivers can send messages back through the cam. Otis Anderson, safety compliance analyst at Jordan Carriers, described a recent use: “We tried contacting a driver in his truck via phone, but were unable to reach him. I then used the dash camera to contact him and connected successfully. The driver mentioned that his phone lost battery. It’s this kind of technology that helps ensure our drivers stay safe,”