Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/946503
EquipmentWorld.com | February 2018 25 implement new technological features," says Mike Popovic, vice president, ex- cavators, Gradall, about the company's last big tech splash two years ago: the debut of the highway-speed Discov- ery crossover. But it was indeed a big splash with several advanced features, most notably remote drive. With it, the operator can drive the truck from the cab of the excavator. Speed is limited to 5 mph forward and reverse. Positioning the machine from the cab improves the typical applications for Gradall excavators such as ditch clean- ing, roadside vegetation control and culvert replacement. Features of the 15- ton Discovery, including remote drive, will make their way to larger models in the future, says Popovic. The most exciting technology on the Gradall horizon is cloud-based BODAS. The Bosch Rexroth BODAS software package offers multiple tools to OEMs, including the ability to con- figure hydraulic system functionality and performance. But it's always been a device-based system requiring that the laptop on which it's installed be physically present with the machine it's configuring. The ability to per- form those configurations and apply updates remotely is advantageous for a smaller manufacturer with machines widely scattered, such as Gradall. Hyundai "At Hyundai, we've put a high priority on our monitor and control technolo- gies," says Michael Fuller, product and training specialist, Hyundai Construc- tion Equipment Americas. "You can see the results in a variety of systems and components." The monitor now includes an inclinometer to indicate machine level condition in real time. Much of the information displayed is centered on monitoring fuel use: aver- age and total fuel consumption, hourly and daily fuel consumption on a historical basis, and an ECO gauge that shows fuel consumption in real time. Hyundai's enhanced hydraulic con- trols include Attachment Flow Control, giving operators independent control machine matters | continued When needed, hybrid sys- tems on excavators provide power to a motor that drives the hydraulic swing motor. When swing motion is slowed, the energy spent is collected and stored in a super capacitor or a bank of lithium-ion batteries. If the storage component needs additional charg- ing, power is delivered by converting the operation of the motor to that of a generator. This motor/gen- erator is mounted to the back end of the engine. An inverter controls electrical flow into and out of the ca- pacitor. Advantages include reduced fuel consumption, reduced noise and the virtually instantaneous torque that is characteristic of electric motors. Hybrid basics The 30-metric-ton Gradall XL4100 is powered by an inline 6-cylinder Volvo engine rated at 248 horsepower. All upper-structure functions are powered by chassis hydraulics through a hydraulic motor and transfer case. Controls consist of a rocker switch for tilt and two electronic joysticks (hoist and bucket, telescope and swing). Quick-change of the joystick pattern is available though the instrument panel.