Soil compactors can be run by operators with varying degrees of experience and training. Journeymen and apprentices alike get in the seat and the results are often quite different. Trimble Construction sees this as an opportunity to showcase its technology.
Trimble has introduced Horizontal Steering Control functionality on the Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform for Soil Compactors, the industry’s first automatic steering control solution for soil compactors and the next step towards Trimble’s autonomous vehicle vision. Trimble Earthwork’s Horizontal Steering Control automatically steers a soil compactor using a 3D model or compaction pass line. This helps to improve compaction productivity and quality for operators of all skill levels by precisely controlling overlap between passes.
Trimble knows it’s difficult to steer a soil compactor with accuracy and consistency, but over- or under-compaction leads to wasted time and materials and less durable surfaces. Horizontal Steering Control helps operators achieve higher quality surfaces and consistent compaction. Compatibility with all soil compactor makes and models enables contractors with mixed fleets to achieve a faster return on investment.
Horizontal steering control allows operators to focus on machine performance and safety and deliver a higher quality, more consistent surface. Auto steering also helps reduce operator fatigue while providing a more consistent sub-surface for a higher quality, longer lasting finished product.
Trimble Earthworks uses the NavController III steering technology from the Trimble Agriculture Division, leveraging the company’s 20-years of industry-leading steering technology and applying it to civil construction applications.
Trimble is developing technology, software, and services to drive the digital transformation of construction, empowering teams across the construction lifecycle. Trimble’s Connected Construction strategy gives users control of their operations with best-in-class solutions and a common data environment. By automating work and transforming workflows, Trimble is enabling construction professionals to improve productivity, quality, transparency, safety, sustainability and deliver each project with confidence.
In 2020, Trimble introduced Horizontal Steering Control as part of the Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform for Dozers, another first in the construction industry. Horizontal Steering Control for Dozers automatically controls the machine to follow any horizontal alignment such as the back of a curb, breakline, roadway centerline, or bottom of slope without operator assistance.
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