3D machine control systems

3D machine control systems

The use of 3D machine control systems in earthworks is already common practice, but road pavers, too, are increasingly being equipped with this technology. For its SUPER pavers, VÖGELE delivers the right solution to tackle every application.

Niveltronic Plus 3D

Niveltronic Plus 3D takes the Niveltronic Plus System for Automated Grade and Slope Control into the third dimension. Its 3D data interface allows the use not only of conventional sensors such as sonic and mechanical sensors, but also of 3D sensors for grade control. To make this possible, Niveltronic Plus 3D must be connected to an external 3D machine control system.

The open interface allows the use of different positioning systems from renowned manufacturers such as Leica, TopCon and Trimble. Niveltronic Plus 3D enables road pavers to use 3D sensors for grade and slope control.

Navitronic Basic

Navitronic Basic represents the next dimension in 3D machine control. It can perform more than just conventional grade and slope control. Over and above this, Navitronic Basic also controls screed position fully automatically.

In order to achieve the highest level of paving accuracy, the screed’s position is precisely controlled via the screed’s extending units. For this purpose, displacement sensors on the extending units determine the current width of the screed. The user then has two options for setting position accuracy: he can define the extreme left or right-hand end of the screed as a fixed reference so that paving takes place along this specified line. Alternatively, he can set a fixed pave width which will then be maintained in exactly this position over the full length of the section to be paved.

The precision control of the extending units enables the width control system of the screed to compensate easily even for those deviations caused by steering the paver. With Navitronic Basic, the paver operator controls the paver's direction of motion manually. The specified route and paver position are shown on the display of the 3D machine control system, allowing the operator to guide the machine very precisely without an artificial reference.

Navitronic Plus

Navitronic Plus represents the highest configuration level in 3D machine control for road pavers. It offers the same performance features as Navitronic Basic - fully automatic control of grade and slope as well as of screed position. However, it also controls the steering of the VÖGELE tracked paver. This renders Navitronic Plus a true 3D machine control system available only from VÖGELE in this form.

Automatic control of the paver’s direction of motion: Navitronic Plus controls the steering of the tracked paver directly via the machine control system. This means that the road paver, whose position is continuously detected by the laser-based total station or GPS, is guided fully automatically along the route’s specified course. The paving team can monitor paver position and detect deviations from the specified line, if any, on the display of the 3D machine control system. The 3D machine control system is a registered patent of JOSEPH VÖGELE AG.

Highlights
  • Cost-effective, non-contacting 3D machine control systems for VÖGELE wheeled and tracked pavers.
  • The complete range of 3D machine control is covered, from simple grade control to fully automatic control of screed position and the paver's direction of motion.
  • Open interface for connecting common 3D positioning systems supports the use of known and existing systems.
  • The possibility of using existing survey data significantly reduces the overall costs of survey work.
  • 3D machine control systems operate with a virtual reference. This eliminates the costly and time-consuming setup of tensioned wires when preparing the job site.
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