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Dozers Develop Minds of Their Own

Crawler Dozers

The move from pilot controls to electrohydraulic is largely driven by the desire to integrate automated grade control systems into dozer operation. However, electrohydraulics offer numerous benefits beyond grade control.

Multi-functional joysticks simplify machine operation, allowing operators to keep their eyes on the blade and their hands on the controls.

Electrohydraulics provide the ability to adjust how aggressive or soft the dozer will steer in a given application.

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When operating a dozer in manual mode, an operator can make up to as many as 60 corrections per minute, Unger points out. "When it's in Auto Carry mode, an operator will typically create only one or two corrections per minute," he states. "It allows the operator to take his hand completely off the joystick, and it will control the blade throughout that portion of the cycle."

Admittedly, such advanced blade control systems are targeted to mining and other high-production applications. Yet, as demand for more sophisticated controls continues, you may start to see at least variations of these systems funnel down into smaller machine sizes.

"There are various bits and pieces that we are considering taking out of Auto Carry and utilizing in smaller machines to help reduce operator fatigue and help improve productivity and efficiency of the machine," says Unger. "We see it progressing down and mutating into other variations of the same theme."

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