At ConExpo 2020 Trimble introduced several new products including the unveiling of a new mastless motor grader system.
The mastless grader system gives operators an improved range of blade motion, allowing for machine control in applications where it was previously not possible. The system puts one GNSS receiver on the cab and one on the gooseneck of the machine to eliminate the tangle of masts and cables traditionally located on the blade.
Mastless GNSS receivers are ideal for steep slope work and complex designs with tight tolerances.
Trimble also announced a new Earthworks Grade Control version 2.0 at ConExpo with a whole lot of innovative features.
Horizontal Steering Control for dozers allows the machine to automatically follow a GPS designated horizontal alignment such as the back of a curb, a breakline, roadway center line or bottom of a slope. By automating the machine’s travel in the horizontal plane, Horizontal Steering Control lets the operator concentrate on the blade height and grade.
Augmented Reality for excavators blends real world conditions and digital maps on one in-cab monitor enabling users to understand 3D models, cut/fill information, slope data and other reference points in context. Augmented Reality was first released in the Trimble SiteVision™ system and is now available on excavators with Trimble Earthworks.
Using a camera mounted on the outside of the machine, operators can view 3D models in a real-world environment at a true-life scale, in the context of existing surroundings. On the display, the model is overlaid onto the existing ground giving the operator a better understanding of the work. Visibility of the bucket gives operators better situational awareness to be able to keep surrounding people and objects safe.
