Driverless dozing pushes forward

Komatsu America Corp., a global heavy equipment manufacturer, is offering its first fully radio controlled machine with Komatsu’s intelligent Machine Control (iMC) technology.

The 155AXi-8 Radio Control dozer is part of a line of next-generation machines operating semi autonomously with intelligent machine control.

The D155AXi-8 is designed for applications where customers may want to remove the operator from the machine and still maintain high levels of efficiency and productivity. The dozer uses Komatsu’s automated rough-cut-to-finish-grade technology.

For many operators, the ability to feel machine response to blade load is important to effective dozing. To compensate, the D155AXi-8 RC dozer uses iMC, which automates operation whether dozing heavy material or during fine grading. iMC can sense and control the load the blade carries by using stroke-sensing hydraulic cylinders and an inertial measuring unit.

It can optimize the start of the cut, lowering the blade to the correct grade, then raising the blade when the system senses that a maximum load.

Equipping the machine with remote control was done to accommodate quarry, pit and other applications where concerns over high water or extremely rocky conditions may put the operator in harm’s way or give the operator an uncomfortably rough ride.

The Komatsu 155AXi-8 Radio Control dozer is one in a line of next-generation machines operating semi-autonomously with intelligent machine control.

Intellgent machine control

• Base station corrections fix satellite errors and use  machine settings to generate an accurate current position of the blade, which is compared to the 3D model of the project.
• An automatic hydraulic interface moves the blade to the exact design grade.
• The cab displays a simple interface to provide grading information, including cut or fill values.
• Benefits include faster grading operations, fewer passes, less rework and lower machine operating costs.