The construction industry, one of the world’s largest manufacturing sectors, has embraced automation slowly. However, integrating more innovative technologies, such as 3D positioning and guidance, is crucial for automating the industry, boosting productivity, and delivering impressive ROI for contractors. Here’s how we can assist in overcoming the challenges and reaping the benefits of GNSS-based 3D machine control.
Traditional vs. Technological Approach: Traditionally, construction sites relied on surveyors to stake grade level points, followed by heavy machinery grading to these levels, often accidentally removing stakes in the process. While effective, this method lacked efficiency and safety. The evolution of GNSS-based 3D machine control technology has transformed this process. Equipping heavy machinery with a complete GNSS system eliminates guesswork between stake points, allowing for real-time cut/fill operations, enhancing job accuracy, productivity, and efficiency.
Barriers to Entry and Our Solutions: The adoption of 3D machine control faces challenges, primarily the high initial investment and the complexity of the technology. Different machines require multiple configurations and features, which can escalate costs. However, we can help justify these costs by demonstrating the significant productivity gains and ROI benefits for various applications.
The learning curve and technical expertise required for these systems can be daunting. We offer comprehensive training and support, making these systems more user-friendly and intuitive. Our team assists with technical preparations like data preparation, site calibration/localization, and RTK setup, ensuring maximum effectiveness right from the start.
Benefits of 3D Machine Control: The competitive edge gained from using 3D machine control systems is substantial. These systems enable contractors to set up job sites quickly and efficiently. The precision of GNSS-based systems results in less rework and increased job time efficiency.
Operational costs are reduced as operators can achieve the desired grade faster, using less fuel and resources. Additionally, completing work within the safety of a machine’s cab promotes a safer work environment and significantly boosts production.
In summary, while the challenges of adopting GNSS-based 3D machine control in construction are real, the benefits far outweigh the cons. With our expertise and support, contractors can navigate these challenges, harnessing the power of this technology to achieve safer, more efficient, and cost-effective construction processes.
Let’s dive into why machine control is the hot ticket in construction right now, thanks to a combo of digital advancements, emerging products, and big economic trends.
The 2023 State of the Industry Construction Technology Report tells us that contractors are already getting amongst connected equipment tech, and they’re planning to use it even more. About 13% of those surveyed are already using interconnected gear, and another 62% reckon it’ll be key for them in the next decade.
So, what connected equipment tech are these tradies using or planning to splash cash on? More of them are using machine control tech straight from their equipment OEM than aftermarket options from the likes of Trimble, Leica, Topcon, and others. Experts reckon the construction machine control sector will jump from $4.4 billion in 2022 to $5 billion in 2023, and then to $7.6 billion by 2027.
Automation to Tackle Staff Shortages This growth isn’t just about new tech and products hitting the market. It’s also because machine control is a solid answer to a big headache in construction – finding enough staff. As of February 2023, contractors need to hire about 546,000 extra workers to meet this year’s demand, says Associated Builders and Contractors.
McKinsey’s research by Garo Hovnanian, Ryan Luby, and Shannon Peloq highlights that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is expected to create 3.2 million new jobs in nonresidential construction and its supply chain. But with a tight labor market, other sectors have seen productivity dips. Not great timing when there’s a surge in demand.
Tech that cuts down on the hours needed or the skill level required for projects is already making a difference. This includes not just automated machine operation but also equipment guidance products like Cat Assist.
An early study at the University of Southern Mississippi found that automated machine guidance offered:
66% time savings for grade checking
85% reduction in or elimination of staking
30-50% time savings through uninterrupted earthmoving
66% reduction in survey staffing and 100% increase in speed
Equipment Guidance as a Stepping Stone Equipment guidance is bringing real labor and time-saving benefits, and more products are on the way. Some, like Trimble’s Siteworks Machine Guidance, can be upgraded later for more autonomy.
Jack Young from Trimble Civil Construction says, “This is machine guidance, not full automation. But it’s a stepping stone to more advanced tech. It’s buildable and not a dead end.”
This approach makes the tech more accessible, even for contractors with just one machine. Trimble and others are also offering it as a service, which might be more appealing for those cautious about investing big or wanting to try the tech without fully committing.
More Autonomy and Robotics on the Horizon While equipment guidance is great on its own, tech that automates the business end of construction gear or even the steering is now mature and proven, especially for earthwork and paving.
Emerging tech is pushing the boundaries even further. Built Robotics, for example, is automating excavators for utility trenching in solar farms. They’ve also launched a robotic pile driver at CONEXPO.
Sarcos Technologies is another player in this space, focusing on supervised autonomy for repetitive tasks. They’ve got machines for grinding, spraying, hydroblasting, torque tooling, and surface prep.
Underlying Tech Advancements Electrification is another big shift in construction gear, driven by environmental and sustainability goals. This could speed up the rollout of new machine control tech.
Electrification is changing the game, especially for lighter gear. It might lead to more efficient electromechanical actuators replacing hydraulics, which are smaller, lighter, and don’t need all the hydraulic kit.
Electromechanical actuators could first appear in lighter equipment due to their capacities. They offer more precise movement, which could make automated gear more accurate and easier for operators in tight spaces or complex tasks.
The Future of Autonomous Construction Gear While some companies are unleashing fully autonomous machines for specific tasks and others automate steering and production, the future could see gear that operates entirely on its own in more complex and dynamic job sites.
From self-grading diggers to autonomous trucks, machine control tech is shaking up the construction game. But what’s the go with this tech?
First up, let’s crack into what ‘machine control’ means and why it’s a big deal. In simple terms, machine control hardware and software are there to figure out where a machine is sitting on the planet and how that stacks up against the planned design. It uses data from satellites or total stations and 3D models to make sure operators can put their machinery right where it needs to be, check the grade, automate some of the grunt work, and gather data. With a bunch of positioning sensors and a display, machine control gives operators a clear picture of where their machine’s bucket or blade is in relation to the planned design.
This tech has been helping the construction mob with earthworks since the late ’90s. It lets decisions be made based on solid data, not just the traditional guesswork or how skilled the operator is. This means operators can get more done, more accurately.
Machine control on excavators, dozers, and graders saves time, cash, and fuel, thanks to being more on the money and working better. With solution platforms, operators can mix and match total stations or GNSS with different types of machinery, giving them heaps of flexibility.
Machine control’s getting a run on all sorts of construction gear now – like graders, dozers, and more recently, excavators. Before this tech came along, operators had to manually check everything – a process that was slower, less accurate, and riskier because the grade checkers had to get up close and personal with the machines. When 2D and 3D tech started getting better, early machine control tech came along too. It gave operators simple visual guides, like systems showing how deep to cut, and let dozer and grader blades be controlled to stay on grade.
Back in the day, rotating lasers were used to send signals picked up by sensors on the machines, giving operators the basic info they needed. But compared to today’s machine control, these early systems were pretty limited and often too pricey or complex.
Challenges in the Construction Industry Today: Fast forward to now, and the construction industry’s facing a few hurdles. There’s a real struggle to get young people into the trade, leading to a shortage of skilled operators. This could mean a big gap in skills, affecting the quality and productivity of projects. To hit construction targets and tackle this skills gap, the industry’s leaning more towards automated machine control.
Automated Machine Control: This isn’t just about giving operators a visual guide; automated machine control actually moves the blade to grade by controlling the machine’s hydraulics. This puts the responsibility for accuracy and speed on the tech, not just the operator. So, even newbies or less-skilled operators can work like pros, and the seasoned operators can work smarter and faster.
Adoption of Automated Machine Control: Looking at the construction scene today, it’s clear that machine control automation isn’t being picked up at the same rate across all machines. While graders and dozers are getting automated, excavators are lagging behind, with only about 10% adoption in Europe, compared to over 50% for dozers. In the past, with plenty of skilled workers around, the push for automation on excavators wasn’t huge. But now, with a need for more productivity and fewer skilled operators, it’s time for the construction industry to get behind the benefits of investing in automated machine control.
QuipTech Machine control tech is a ripper for businesses looking to up their game in productivity and slash costs – and it’s not just for the big gear like dozers, but for the compact kit too.
Machine control tech has come a long way since it first hit the scene, and if you haven’t chucked it into your fleet yet, you might be missing out on a fair dinkum advantage. It’s a beaut way to wrap up projects quicker, cheaper, and with top-notch accuracy. It’s a smart investment that usually pays for itself after just a few jobs and saves you a stack of time and money over the life of the machine. In a market that’s getting tighter, it could be the edge you need for your next job.
We’re going to have a squiz at the reasons why you should think about adding machine control tech to your current fleet or your next purchase.
Nail It the First Crack: Nothing’s more of a headache (or hits the wallet harder) than having to redo work. With machine control, you’re on the money with the right amount of material at the right height, every time. Redoing work can be a costly drama, affecting not just one crew but the whole workflow on site.
Better Predictability and Control of Job Costs: Machine control lets you nail down the exact amount of time and materials needed for a job. This means better use of gear and your crew, and keeping a lid on material costs. For example, if you cart off too much dirt, you’re not just wasting time and effort but also cash to bring in new stuff.
Less Wear and Tear: The more you flog your gear, the more it wears out. Machine control means you can do the job in fewer goes, saving on engine hours, filter and fluid changes, and wear on blades and undercarriages.
Better Use of Equipment: Working smarter as mentioned above means you can use your gear more wisely. Maybe you’ll find you need one less dozer on a job, freeing it up for work elsewhere.
Up the Ante on Productivity: Quality trumps speed, but let’s not kid ourselves: machine control helps you get the job done quicker. Each job’s different, but the boost in productivity is a solid reason to get on board.
Cut Down Operating Costs: All the points above boil down to lower operating costs. Whether it’s doing more with less effort, cutting out rework, saving on maintenance and fuel, or getting more out of your fleet, machine control tech makes it all happen.
Boost Operator Performance and Cut Training Time: Finding and training operators for bulldozers and graders is a tough gig. Machine control tech shortens the learning curve and lets less experienced operators do quality work.
Dig with Confidence: Outfit an excavator with machine control, and it becomes a beast for fast and accurate digging. It’s a winner for trenching, letting the operator hit the exact depth without needing someone in the trench to check.
No More Re-staking: Re-staking a site can chew through the budget. With machine control, your design stays put in the system, saving you a packet on re-staking costs.
Fine-Tune Work with Compact Gear: Machine control isn’t just for the big stuff. It’s a gem for compact gear too, like excavators digging next to foundations, skid steers doing final grading, or tractors on sports fields.
Better Data Sharing Between Trades: Big job sites are like mini-cities, with heaps of contractors doing their bit. Sharing a single model of the site means everyone’s on the same page, cutting out confusion and mix-ups.
Easier to Add When You Buy: Back in the day, machine control was often an add-on from a third party. These days, many manufacturers have it baked in or have teamed up with machine control suppliers. This makes it a breeze to add when you’re buying new gear.
Easy to Scale Up: Starting with machine control can be a bit daunting, but entry-level systems are set up for easy upgrades. You can start with a basic setup and add bits as you go, scaling up to a more advanced system when you’re ready.
If you’ve been umming and ahhing about machine control on your heavy gear, or thinking about adding it as an aftermarket option, it might be time to have a yarn with us and see how we can give your business a leg up.
Hemisphere is the leader in high-performance satellite positioning accuracy and reliability. Hemisphere GNSS’ next-generation construction products deliver advanced solutions and all of the components required to accurately and efficiently manage your data and take control of your machines and job sites.
Hemisphere service industries such as Agriculture, Construction & Mining, Marine and OEM. Their products include OEM Boards, Receivers, Smart Antennas, Antennas, Advanced Rugged Devices and Software Solutions.
Hemisphere products maintain a strong technology foundation built with diverse intellectual property and a relentless focus on innovation, Hemisphere is the leader in high-performance satellite positioning accuracy and reliability offering the best prices and performance solutions for today’s global GNSS marketplace.
Red Edge Resources is able to provide a variety of product solutions for your business’s machine control needs. Our company can supply, fit, calibrate, train, maintain and support all Hemisphere Machine Control products just like all other main brands.
The Vector VR1000 is Hemisphere GNSS’ premiere multi-GNSS, multi-frequency position and heading receiver designed specifically for the machine control market. Providing precise heading, Athena RTK positioning, and full Atlas capability, its rugged design is compliant to IP69K, MIL-STD-810G, and IEC 60068-2 standards.
The VR1000 supports antenna separations up to 10 meters, offering heading accuracy to 0.01 degrees RMS in addition to RTK position accuracy and full support for Hemisphere GNSS’ Atlas Global Correction Service.
Key Features
Athena™ RTK Engine
Extremely accurate heading with baselines up to 10m
Integrated Ethernet, CAN, internal 400MHz radio, Serial, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi
Powerful WebUI accessed via Wi-Fi plus 12 multi- colour LEDs
Integrated IMU delivers fast start-up times and maintains heading during temporary GNSS outage
Fully rugged IP69K, and MIL-STD-810G compliant solution for the harshest environments
VR500 Dozer Kit
The Vector™ VR500 is Hemisphere’s latest rugged all-in-one multi-frequency, multi-GNSS smart antenna, providing RTK-level position and precise heading. The integrated UHF radio, Ethernet and Wi-Fi capabilities provide versatile access to RTK correction data and services. The VR500 is compliant to IP69, and MIL-STD-810G standards for water ingress, shock, and vibration, for the harshest environments. The VR500 is an excellent solution for machine control and other challenging applications that require high-accuracy position and heading data.
The all-in-one VR500 with set antenna separation provides consistent and reliable position and heading accuracy.
Key Features
Integrated all-in-one RTK capable position & heading solution
Athena™ RTK Engine
Atlas® Global Correction Service
Integrated IMU delivers fast start-up times and maintains heading during temporary GNSS outage
Fully rugged IP69, and MIL-STD810G compliant solution for the harshest environments
Powerful WebUI accessed via Wi-Fi plus 4 multi-colour LEDs
C631 Base and Rover
The C631 is Hemisphere’s all-new multi-GNSS, multi-frequency smart antenna. The C631 provides robust performance and high precision in a compact and rugged package. With multiple wireless communication ports and an open GNSS interface, the C631 can be used in a variety of operating modes. Use the C631 as a precise base station sending RTK to your existing rover network. Turn the C631 into a lightweight and easy-to-use rover by connecting it to your base via UHF radio or Wi-Fi network. The built-in web user interface (WebUI) can be used to control and manage the receiver status and operation, as well as to upgrade the C631 with new firmware and activations. C631 is Athena-enabled and Atlas-capable (subscription required).
The C631 receiver is powered by Athena RTK technology. With Athena, C631 provides state-of-the-art RTK performance when receiving corrections from a static base station or network RTK correction system. With multiple connectivity options, the C631 allows for RTK corrections to be received over radio, cell modem, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or serial connection. C631 delivers centimetre-level accuracy with virtually instantaneous initialization times and cutting-edge robustness in challenging environments.
The C631 receiver also enables users to work with Atlas. Atlas is Hemisphere’s industry-leading global correction service, which can be added as a subscription to the C631. Atlas delivers worldwide centimetre-level correction data over L-band communication satellites. With Atlas, C631 users can experience sub-decimeter positioning performance anywhere on Earth, without the need to be near a GNSS or communication infrastructure.
Key Features
Multi-frequency GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, IRNSS, and Atlas L-band
Long-range RTK baselines up to 50 km with fast acquisition times
UHF (400 MHz & 900 MHz), cellular, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi wireless communication
Internal sensor corrects collected point coordinates to within 2 cm
R632 GNSS Base Station
Hemisphere’s R632 GNSS receiver is a full-solution product in an incredibly compact and robust package, offering the ability to upgrade to an astounding 0.01° accurate heading easily.
Built on the foundation of Hemisphere’s new Lyra, Cygnus and Aquila core technologies, the R632 offers amazing new interference rejection and multipath mitigation. The result is an exceptional combination of performance, communications, and connectivity. The R632’s standard configuration offers multiple connectivity methods and an impressive array of wireless communications.
Through Hemisphere’s Atlas correction network, the R632 offers worldwide stand-alone positioning to 4 cm.
The R632 is an incredible solution for almost any application requiring a professional-level position and heading performance.
