Some are more descriptive, such as Boom Economy Control in the Case Intelligent Hydraulic System, which cuts engine speed during boom down and swing gravity functions. Others simply use letters or numbers – “A” and “H” for example – and rely on the operator to know which mode delivers the right performance characteristics for the work being done.
Accessing modes and other machine controls is not at all standardized. Some OEMs still use traditional switches. Others make options accessible through the in-cab monitor. Still others have adopted haptic controllers from the automotive world.
Haptics is the term for tactile feedback; a pivotal part of the discussion as OEMs move from pilot control valves to electrohydraulic controls. A haptic controller is typically one with a knob that turns to select options on a monitor or other display; the operator then presses the controller to click on (or select) the highlighted item. There are currently questions as to whether haptic controls give the same feel and feedback as pilot controls, much like the discussion when the transition was made from mechanical controls to pilot controls.With so many modes at their disposal, do operators actually use them? “Operators fall into two camps,” says Adam Woods, product marketing specialist at Link-Belt, “those who are in complete compliance with the use of various modes, and those who just want full power all the time.”
