Were used to numberssome of them in the double digitswhen manufacturers talk about fuel efficiency gains in new equipment. But Komatsu America on Friday talked about a huge number, and it wasnt about fuel efficiency, but rather production time.
Komatsu says the semi-automatic Intelligent Machine Control on its PC210LCi-10 excavator will help make over-excavation a thing of the past. Compared with using a standard excavator, the company says in field tests the excavator showed up to a 63-percent reduction in production times. Thats a number that will make most contractors pause.
The machine is semi-automatically limited from digging beyond the target surface, as defined by project files downloaded either through a thumb drive inserted into the bottom of the in-cab control box or remotely through project partner Topcons Sitelink 3D Enterprise program.
Previewed at ConExpo in March, the excavator will be available in North America starting next month, the culmination of a project thats obviously got those involved buzzing. Ive been at Komatsu since 1988 and this is the most exciting project Ive worked on, says Peter Robson, director, intelligent machine controls. This is no longer machine guidance, but machine control. Were confident customers will start to unearth the potential of this system.
In fact, Robson says, the first PC210LCi-10 has already been sold to a customer in the Northeast.
What does semi-automatic mean?
Komatsu wants to make clear the machine control takes over only when an operator nears the target surface as defined by downloaded project files. In all other areas, operators are in complete control. Productivity gains depend on the operator, who still controls the speed of the operation, says Jason Anetsberger, project marketing manager, intelligent machine controls. This will raise an operators efficiencies, whatever his experience.
The company also wants to differentiate this system from what it calls conventional guidance systems now available for excavators. With conventional guidance, the grade quality depends entirely on the skill of the operator, Robson says. When you talk to customers, one of the biggest problems they had with these systems is speed. The operator is always constantly monitoring the system to see if hes on grade. With Intelligent Machine Control, the operator can focus on moving materials efficiently without worrying about meeting the target.
This actually empowers the operator, Anetsberger adds. Hes not relying on people outside of the machine to tell him whether hes on grade, and he has less tunnel vision than if he was constantly looking at a machine guidance monitor.
How its done
The excavators Intelligent Machine Control system, modeled in part after Komatsus intelligent dozer line introduced last year and developed concurrently with the dozer controls, offers real-time bucket edge positioning in relation to the machine and job surface.
The system has several components, all factory installed:
- Stroke sensing hydraulic cylinders on the boom, arm and bucket. Each of these cylinders has a built-in stroke sensor, providing real-time bucket position data sent to the in-cab control box. Monitoring displacement of the cylinders, the sensors track where the cutting edge of the bucket is relative to the body of the machine.
- An Inertial Measurement Unit, located inside the machine, which detects machine orientation.
- Working from project files, a 12.1-inch tablet-like touch screen display control box inside the cab shows side and aerial views of the machine, and uses a facing angle compass, a light bar and audio guidance.
- Two GNSS antennas, positioned on easily-accessed handrails behind the cab. A GNSS receiver is located inside the machine.
The only obvious clues an intelligent machine is different from the standard PC210LC-10 are the antennas and in-cab control box. All other components are internal.
These components give the excavator these semi-automatic capabilities when near the target surface:
- Auto grade assist, in which the boom adjusts the bucket height automatically when the operator moves the arm, allowing him to trace the target surface and minimize digging too deep.
- Auto stop control, which stops the machine during boom or bucket operation when the bucket edge reaches the target surface, also limiting over-excavating.
- Minimum distance control, which controls the bucket by automatically selecting the point on the bucket closest to the target surface regardless of machine position.
Touch controls
The 7-inch standard display in most excavators wouldnt convey all the information operators needed with the Intelligent Machine System, so Komatsu opted for a 12.1-inch-high screen that uses a touch screen interface instead of a multi-step menu. (Note: the machine still uses the excavators function display monitor for regular functions.)
The angle and magnification of the 3D display can be changed, allowing operators to select the optimum view for their jobs. Users can switch between a rough overall view or a magnified fine grading view that highlights the bucket position. The display can be moved out of the way when not in use.
Located in the upper right hand corner of the screen, the arrow of the facing angle compass shows the orientation of the bucket edge relative to the target surface. This compass allows us to square the machine to the slope, basically giving the bucket an accurate cutting edge perpendicular to the slope, Anetsberger says. While this seems easy, it can be quite difficult, especially when you consider the machine is sitting on an uneven surface.
In a narrow column on the left side of the screen, a conventional colored light bar shows the bucket edge position relative to the target surface; when the buttons are green, youre close to grade. Operators can also opt to use a sound function, which audibly warns them when the bucket reaches programmed distances from the target surface. If you opt for manual controls, the Auto mode can be turned off by pushing an upper right corner switch, putting the display in indicate-only mode.
If owners opt to use Topcons Sitelink 3D Enterprise system, machine and office can be connected in several ways:
- Project files can be directly downloaded from a contractors office to the machine.
- Progress information and as-built data can be sent back to the office.
- Machine and office can send messages to each other.
- Machine functions can be remotely troubleshooted.
The experience
Komatsu gave editors a simple experience on Friday to show how Intelligent Machine Control feels in the operators seat. With a target area established just above the surface, we were instructed to boom up, extend the arm out, uncurl the bucket and boom down. When the bucket tips reached the target area, the machine gently prevented you from going further down.
Then we pretended we were tracing the bottom of a trench, moving the arm back. During this, the boom automatically adjusted the height of the bucket to keep it level and from going too deep, following along the target surface.
Now if you were doing that manually, said my instructor Anetsberger, youd have to coordinate the movement between the arm and the boom. When I positioned the bucket away from the target surface, I was once again in control.
ROI in 18 months
While not disclosing the exact number, Robson says theres a significant premium for the Intelligent Machine Control system, but says Komatsu expects users to get an ROI in 18 months. As with the dozer, where the initial D6li-23 model opened the way for several intelligent dozers, the excavator intelligent controls are scaleable, and will most likely appear in larger excavators in the next 12 to 18 months.
This does open the door to autonomous possibilities on a construction site, Robson says.
