GPS machine control involves the use of several instruments to give feedback to operators on grades and equipment positions. Creating a 3D model from predetermined positions gathered through GPS machine control increases accuracy. You can use equipment like motor graders, dozers and excavators with the collected data to complete an action at exact coordinates.
Topcon Machine control technology works with the help of GPS and GNSS. Earthmoving machines receive signals from these systems and compare them to the model of the proposed plans. This process allows the equipment to determine exactly where and how to grade the terrain.
Satellites are typically off in their measurements, making them unhelpful for precise work. The Topcon base station corrects these errors, allowing for a more accurate reading. A base station sends the reliable reading to a rover, developing a 3D map of the area and determining its location.
Workers in any industry that deals with earthmoving equipment can benefit from Topcon GPS machine control. This technique is common in the following projects:
■ Roadways
■ Commercial projects
■ Paving
■ Excavating
Using GPS machine control to develop 3D models provides several benefits, including:
■ Efficiency.
■ Effective material use.
■ Lower operating expenses and labor costs.
■ Reduced surveyor expenses.
■ Excellent completed surfaces.
With Topcon GPS machine control, your team is more likely to do the job right the first time. Satellite feed data to a machine take out all the standard work and make your job much easier than ever before. Topcon always focuses on creating reliable 3D models that you can use for earthmoving work.
nVolve Solution is a proud master distributor for Topcon Southeren Africa and we are always a phone-call, email or demo away. We have a dedicated team that will assist in answering all of your calls. Reap the benefits of using Topcon machine control solutions for your projects.
For more information please contact us on www.nvolve.co.za or call 012-743-6299 today.
For this to work, rotating lasers were set up to transmit signals that could be picked up by sensors positioned on dozers or graders. This gave operators the basic information they needed for their machines. Yet, in comparison to modern-day machine control, these early systems were still very limited at providing a full and accurate picture and were also often too expensive or complex.
Present day challenges for the industry
Fast forward to the present day, and the construction industry is facing some significant challenges. It is no secret that there is a lack of fresh talent entering the sector. In particular, contractors have trouble attracting young people and, as a result, there are fewer operators entering the profession.
Should this trend continue, the industry will be left with a shortage of experienced and reliable operators, which means that the quality and productivity of projects will be impacted by a significant skills gap. To meet construction targets and tackle the skills gap head-on, the industry is turning towards automated machine control to enhance its workflow further.
Automated machine control
Going beyond simply providing operators with a visual guide to bucket or blade position, automated machine control moves the blade to grade by talking to the machine’s hydraulics. Unlike with regular machine control, automated machine control technology places the responsibility for accuracy and speed firmly in the hands of performance-enhancing technology. This means that through the use of this technology, new or less-skilled operators can perform like a professional and even the most experienced operators can work better and faster.
How well has automated machine control been adopted?
When looking at the current construction landscape, it is clear that, despite its significant benefits, machine control automation is not being adopted across all machines at an equal rate. In fact, although automation is being embraced on machines like graders and dozers, the uptake has been much slower for excavators, with the adoption rate of automated machine control on these machines still estimated at around 10% in Europe in comparison to a rate of over 50% for dozers. In the past, this was unsurprising, as, while the industry previously had a steady supply of skilled workers, the need for automation across excavators was not considered high. Today, an increase in productivity on excavators can be noted as increased accuracy and reduced over-digging being relatively easy to prove. Nevertheless, it is clear that the industry now needs to reassess the requirements for excavators. With the demands for productivity increasing and a shortage of skilled operators, construction needs to embrace the benefits that investing in automated machine control can bring.