From Lasers to GPS: The Evolution Of Machine Control In Construction

Since its beginning, construction equipment has been under revolution to become better and better. In recent days, when sustainability has hit the urge, the equipment revolution is once again in rapid transformation. Machine control technology is held responsible for this advancement in the construction heavy equipment as it keeps innovating with time. Not only does this change the equipment tech but transformed how infrastructure is constructed such as highways, bridges, and high-rise buildings. However, this journey of machine control transformation is almost six decades long.

Laser technology: The early era of machine control

In 1960, laser technology in construction machines was introduced first which made a massive agitation in the industry.

The first laser prototype was made at the Hughes Research Laboratory in California, which was an optical resonator designed to produce a narrow beam of light. At first, the military used the tech which was then adopted by the agricultural engineers James Fouss and Norman Fausey of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service at The Ohio State University. The team experimented with laser beam light in motor graders to make the grading job precise and efficient.

2D solutions and sonic sensors

Time moved forward and machine control tech got advanced. The introduction of 2D solutions and sound sensors made a significant success in industrial and construction equipment. With coupling the laser tech and sonic sensors, machines were able to monitor non-planer surfaces and accurately measure the distance. The BladePro System and other first-generation 1D/2D machine control solutions were also developed through the use of sound tracers and revolving lasers.

Transition to 3D and GPS

The robotic total station and GPS technology were two key developments in the late 1990s that started the era of the 3D domain in machine control technology.

Trimble and other businesses were creating GPS-based products at the same time. Centimeter-level precision in machine control was made possible by Trimble’s 1992. Trimble revolutionized the stakeless grade control industry by launching its first GPS-based system in the late 1990s.

Trimble and Caterpillar Joint Ventures

Later, two leading companies, Trimble and Caterpillar joined hands to the further advances in machine control technology. This collaboration released their first product, the computer-aided earthmoving system (CAES) to be used in bulldozers and wheel excavators for sale. This invention actually made a positive and significant difference in bringing the efficiency and productivity of the construction project.

Luckily, the collaboration of the two giants continued to produce Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies (CTCT) in 2002, which pushed innovation in machine control for the mining and construction sectors.

How did the industry adopt this transformation?

At first, technologies were only under the experimental levels and to be used only in high-profile projects. However, all of these technologies were made available for real-world use.

In 1999, Trimble used a John Deere 750 dozer in Elgin, Illinois, to test its GPS-based technology. The $50,000 system eliminated rework, increased productivity right away, and gave a measurable return on investment. The operator was uncertain at first, but after confirming the precision of the new technology, he soon accepted it.

GPS and 3D grade control systems are now widely accepted and appreciated by industrial and construction contractors. These techs are making significant changes in the projects, bringing further efficiencies.

What’s ahead in machine control technology?

As per the historical evidence, the future of machine control technology only seems brighter with further advancements. All these techs are actually making the operator’s life easier and boosting the productivity of the projects with more precise accuracy.

The automatic steering control solution for the soil compactor released by the Trimble is a prime example of how machine control will further get advanced in the coming days. These solutions are simply improving the global labour problem and providing highly skilled operators.

Not more but a few of the recent trends are in the limelight amid the machine control technologies. Some of them are the integration of Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning, advanced telematics, Robotics and 5G technologies. The idea of a fully automated construction site is coming to pass, with all equipment cooperating in real time and crews getting input immediately.

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