Contractors just getting started with 3D technology no longer have to choose between purchasing a rover for surveying and layout or machine guidance technology for their equipment.
Trimble’s latest expansion of Siteworks Machine Guidance gives them both.
The company introduced the module for excavators in 2023 and has now released its first machine guidance solution designed for compact track loader buckets.
The flexible overlay system is compatible with any make or model of CTL and is designed to move from a 3D survey rod to a bracket on the side of the machine. With Siteworks Machine Guidance, the operator can now use the bucket to level materials to design, which would previously require switching to either a grading or box blade attachment, Trimble says.
Attendees at the Trimble Dimensions User Conference in Las Vegas got a first look at the technology. To learn more about the “all-in-one solution for layout, grading and leveling,” check out our video above with Trimble product manager Jack Young.
The kit is simple to install and includes the Trimble SPS986 or Trimble R780 GNSS Smart Antenna with tilt compensation and the Trimble ProPoint positioning engine. It can be used with a Trimble field tablet or any personal device.
Contractors can remove the module from the machine to design, measure and lay out projects. The GNSS receiver and field tablet can then be transferred from the pole to the compact track loader or excavator to provide in-cab, 3D machine guidance and grade checking capabilities without the need for a surveyor.
“Your investment carries with you, whether you’re in the cab or walking around with the survey. It was a two-for-one with the rover and the excavator. Now, it’s a three-for-one with the rover, excavator and compact track loader, and we want to continue to build on that,” Young said.
The system also allows contractors to share designs, access remote support and keep projects moving from the road using Trimble WorksManager Software. By using the Trimble CenterPoint RTX corrections service, contractors can “experience greater mobility without the constraints of a local base station or VRS network,” satellite or cellular/IP.
Siteworks Machine Guidance for CTLs is available worldwide now through the Sitech distribution channel.
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