Caterpillar’s new technology in 2022! Caterpillar has released information on their next-generation cab designs and a wearable work safety product.
The Next Generation Cab
The next-generation cab design alone offers 30 new features for connectivity and adaptability. These include:
a new seat
more legroom
heating
ventilation and air cooling (HVAC) system and;
better cab filtration, putting the operator at the heart of the new design.
“Every time we get a new machine at the quarry, we feel that they are getting better. They are getting more sophisticated to help the operator run the machine,” said Mario Amaran, heavy equipment operator for CEMEX Quarry in Florida, United States.
“The panels and controls are within your reach without having to lose your focus on operating the machine. The comfort and the ride, I compare it to my car out on the turnpike.
“It’s very comfortable, even with our dirt road situations. We bring a lot of dirt to the hopper, and the operators are happy.”
AutoHoistis used to raise the truck body while controlling the engine speed. As a result, the dump cycles on mining trucks are reduced by 12 seconds.
The next generation cab has proved up to 6 per cent higher retarding speeds in testing, thanks to the Enhanced Automatic Retarder Control.
Connected Work System
Caterpillar also launched the new Connected Worker system to protect workers and enhance communication. A wearable tag has been created to provide location services, SOS protocols, evacuation and social distancing alerts. The product forms part of the Cat MineStar Detect portfolio
Workers can alert colleagues to unsafe conditions in the field, thanks to the product’s interconnectivity. Data can be captured via video and audio for transmitting via a local server or in the cloud. This technology will be made available in early 2022.
Guide and Surface Management
As part of the MineStar Edge platform, Guide and Surface Management uses cloud-based computing for operational optimisation. Guide offers a new user interface, intuitive training capabilities and increased efficiency for loading and grading. Secondly, it also includes high-precision block and material identification which is displayed for both on-board and in-office staff.
Surface Management allows reports comparing mine plans to actual live results. These can be viewed on office computers or mobile field devices. Managers will be able to analyse the best and worst of a surface mining operation to find room for improvement.