Automatic control of boom, bucket, tilt and tilt rotator bucket

(HEERBRUGG, Switzerland, 10 March 2020) –  Leica Geosystems, a Hexagon company, today announced the release of the new semi-automated excavator functionality for the  iXE3 3D excavator machine control solution, including tilt and tilt rotator bucket automation.

The solution automatically controls boom, bucket, tilt and tilt rotator bucket functions to dig faster and more accurate to the target design surface and cross slope. The new semi-automatic functionality enables the operator to execute complex tasks, reduce manual controls, increase productivity, speed and accuracy of the work, even for less experienced operators.

“Automating the excavator on a jobsite will increase productivity and accuracy, decrease operator fatigue and fuel consumption. I am convinced that a more focused and alert operator is a safer operator, decreasing the risk of accidents and costly rework errors,” explains Kris Maas, product management director in the machine control division at Leica Geosystems.

Flexible and easy-to-use excavator solution

The new semi-automatic excavator is completely flexible and easy-to-use, allowing the operator to select auto boom control, auto bucket control, auto tilt control and auto rotation control or in any combination to suit the operator’s choice and the task at hand.

“The semi-automatic configuration allows me to work 30% faster on grading application than a machine equipped with traditional machine control solution,” explains Torsten Walter, excavator operator at V&C Metzner GmbH, Germany.

The new solution is developed through the hydraulic controller and requires the installation of a hydraulic control unit. The advanced 3D excavator machine control solution offers several new functions:
•    Simple engagement of the auto function by pulling the stick.
•    The cross-cut surface protection prevents the operator from digging into other parts of the design surface.
•    The solution automatically adjusts the bucket height to minimise over-excavation and costly rework.
•    Intelligent slope detection to automatically snap to the correct slope of the surface under the bucket.
•    Rotation controlled cross-cut, combining the auto bucket and the auto tilt functions to match the target surface regardless of the bucket rotation. 

Semi-automatic excavator will at the first release be available for the following machine models:
•    Liebherr 924 and Liebherr 926
•    Case 210 and Case 250
•    Doosan 255
•    Hitachi 210 and Hitachi 300
•    John Deere 210 and John Deere 300

With the second release, the semi-automatic excavator will be available for multi-brand and multi-class machines.

This innovation is available for hands-on demonstrations at  CONEXPO-CON/AGG 10-14 March 2020 in Las Vegas, United States, on the Hexagon Booth in North Hall, at stand #N-12166.

Leica Geosystems offers several tools that will increase the productivity of your excavator by automating vital functions

Leica Geosystems – when it has to be right

With more than 200 years of history, Leica Geosystems, a Hexagon company, is the trusted supplier of premium sensors, software and services. Delivering value every day to professionals in surveying,  construction, infrastructure, mining, mapping and other geospatial content-dependent industries, Leica Geosystems leads the industry with innovative solutions to empower our autonomous future.  

Hexagon is a global leader in sensor, software and autonomous solutions. We are putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, and quality across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, safety, and mobility applications.

Our technologies are shaping urban and production ecosystems to become increasingly connected and autonomous — ensuring a scalable, sustainable future.

Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 21,000 employees in 50 countries and net sales of 3.9bn EUR. Learn more at  hexagon.com and follow us  @HexagonAB.



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Leica Geosystems AG
Reka Vasszi
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leica-geosystems.com