"3D Machine Control system", one of our Dig Nav +PLUS, further increases the productivity of a backhoe
To make up for the labor shortage at construction sites, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is proposing the promotion of "information-oriented construction" that uses information and communication technology (ICT). In response, in 2005, KOBELCO introduced its "Dig Nav" machine guidance system for navigating the digging operations of excavators, using display screens and alarms as well as positional information.
This time, KOBELCO announced its "Dig Nav +PLUS" 3D machine control system. This is a system that provides the operator with the expert ability to precisely replicate the complex movements of the excavator with just the arm lever controls. As the system allows precise operations in accordance with design, a rookie operator can produce high productivity and precision of a veteran. The system is paid attention to as a significant boon to any construction site.
Highly precise execution of large jobs
with a small number of people
In the first place, the thinking behind "information-oriented construction" is to inherit the skill of an expert as the aging of the population progresses, while handling the work with a less number of individuals and exceeding the efficiency and precision of jobs. For example, tasks like shaping the face of a slope using an excavator require a high level of skill and precision to create a smooth surface. Yusuke Kamimura, who helped drive this project, had this to say.
To accomplish this, KOBELCO collaborated with Trimble Inc., the world's eminent manufacturer of measurement equipment. Both parties combined their strengths to realize this system.
The actual development began in August 2016. Working with Trimble Inc.'s development team, the project progressed both in Hiroshima and New Zealand at the same time. The firm cooperation between the experts of both companies brought about the verification of an actual device in New Zealand in March 2017. By May, the team began ordering parts in preparation for mass production. It was a tough schedule, but they managed to pull it off.
Tilt rotator to help improve work efficiency in Europe which is troubled by labor shortage
International cooperation between engineers
Together with Kamimura, Yuki Kojima went to New Zealand to help advance the development project. According to Kojima, "Our passion as engineers helpled overcome any culture or language barriers."
Masaru Numasawa, belonging to the Quality Assurance Dept., emphasizes that the precision improvement for "Dig Nav +PLUS" was accelerated by checking the system from a user's standpoint and focusing on the replication of on-site knowhow.
We also investigated the most suitable values such as the movement speed of various areas and the response between lever operations and actual movement. For the speed of simple movements, we could mechanically speed them up. But the speed required for improving work efficiency during an actual task is what only an operator fully acquainted with the operation would know. Therefore, we asked our customers who are actively engaged in construction work nationwide to provide us with monitoring evaluation.
Arm lever control that allows operation in accordance with design.
The execution of complex movements using boom, arm and bucket requires a significant amount of experience.
By semi-automating these complex movements, anybody can realize the productivity and precision of a veteran operator.
A development posture that is close to
both the customer and the production section
A survey taken after test-driving of the machine resulted in several evaluations such as "I was surprised by the operating speed" and "I could move the machine just the way I wanted to". There was even a comment that said, "We convinced the immediate effectiveness of a rookie and more performance efficiency brought out by a veteran. This is a machine that improves on-site productivity."
Naoki Goto, who participated in this project as an expert in electronic control, focused on collecting the demands of both Trimble Inc. and KOBELCO as well as the operators to realize concrete functions.
With this project, we had already the participation from the manufacturing section at the conceptual stage before the prototype was manufactured. From the upstream process of development, we reflected the opinions of the factory side to eliminate the unnecessary returns in the downstream process. As a result, we were able to establish a mass production system very quickly.
"Dig Nav +PLUS" was completed across the Pacific and taking in information from people other than the development leaders. It should contribute as a new solution to construction site issues such as labor shortage and skill succession.
* The contents described above is based on the information at the time of issuing (January, 2018).
Kamimura
The fundamental concept of “Dig Nav +PLUS” is to allow a link of complex control actions using the boom, arm and bucket - a high level of expert skills - to be controlled simply by levers. That is the machine assists the operator for the skills of an expert, just with a few simple controls.