Intelligent Machine Control the Focus for Doosan, Komatsu Equipment

August 1, 2021

Ryan Gehm

By automating excavator operation, Trimble Earthworks can allow operators of Doosan crawler excavators to achieve grade with high accuracy and in less time.

Two construction-equipment manufacturers target increased productivity with their products by recently enhancing their machine-control features. Doosan Infracore North America now will offer the Trimble Earthworks Grade Control Platform for Excavators as an optional factory-installed grade-control solution for the North American market. Trimble Earthworks is designed to make grading faster and more accurate in a range of applications, including residential and commercial sites, trenches, embankments, ditches and finished slope work.

“Doosan crawler excavator customers can enhance their trenching accuracy with the increased technology, contributing to an improved ROI. And our dealers can now offer this directly from the factory to our customers,” said Jaeuk Kim, Doosan director of product management.

Komatsu’s “smallest intelligent dozer,” the D39i-24 incorporates automatic dozing features that can improve productivity by up to 60% versus the previous generation.

Doosan will offer integrated 2D grade control with automatics that includes a 10-inch Android tablet display running the Earthworks software application. It also includes Trimble hardware designed for harsh conditions. When the excavator is placed in Automatics mode, the operator controls the stick and Trimble Earthworks controls the boom and bucket to stay on grade, reducing overcut and increasing production.

Contractors can work with a Doosan dealer to upgrade their 2D system to 3D through a SITECH dealer. SITECH is Trimble’s global distribution network that provides installation services, training and technical support.

Enhanced automation also is the highlight of Komatsu’s “smallest intelligent dozer,” the D39i-24. With intelligent Machine Control (iMC 2.0), 3D design data can be programmed directly into the 105-hp (78-kW) machine. The factory-installed automatic dozing improves operators’ productivity from rough cut to finish grade.

The integrated system upgrades the D39i-24 with new intelligent features. With proactive dozing control, the dozer measures the terrain it tracks over and uses that data to plan the next pass so even less-experienced operators can automatically cut/strip from existing terrain. Productivity can improve by up to 60% compared to the previous generation, according to Komatsu.

The system spreads fill material automatically. With the press of a button, lift layer control puts in repeated consistent lifts. Time savings are realized, Komatsu said, by reducing or eliminating the need to rework for over-compaction or under-compaction. Operators also can create a temporary design surface at the press of a button with quick surface creation. Combined with other iMC 2.0 functions, crews can begin stripping or spreading using automated input while waiting for the finish grade model.

Reduced operator fatigue is another stated benefit. Tilt steering control automatically tilts the blade to maintain straight travel during rough dozing, reducing operator steering input by up to 80%.