Pit & Quarry, November 2016
EVENT XPLORATION FORUM fined route says Jenny Elfsberg director of emerging technologies at Volvo CE The machines can perform the same task over and over again along a fixed route for a relatively long period of time But its still early days for this technology she says Currently these prototype machines dont communicate with each other and machine to machine communication technology where machines talk to one another and to a central control point is crucial when it comes to avoiding collisions and facilitating an efficient flow of equipment Elfsberg says autonomous machines will increase safety in hazardous working environments and eliminate the possibility of accidents caused by human error Customers will benefit from improved performance productivity fuel efficiency and durability In the future you could also potentially have one operator for three or four machines she says increasing productivity and further decreasing costs Looking ahead I imagine that autonomous machines will be smaller and more robust There will be no need for a cab or suspension much like the HX1 concept FUTURE OF INDUSTRY Volvo CE reinforced the idea that energy efficiency is at the top of the companys agenda when it unveiled its prototype hybrid wheel loader known as the LX1 at the event The company says the electric hybrid machine can deliver up to a 50 percent improvement in fuel efficiency In addition the LX1 offers a significant reduction in emissions and noise pollution compared to its conventional counterparts The LX1 is a series hybrid that incorporates a driveline that consists of electric drive motors mounted at the wheels electric hydraulics an energy storage system a significantly smaller diesel engine and new machine architecture Its this combination that enables the substantial gain in fuel efficiency The prototype which has 98 percent new parts and a fundamentally new machine design is capable of doing the work of a wheel loader thats one size larger At this stage the LX1 is part of a research project and it is not commercially available SHORT AND LONG TERM OUTLOOK The Volvo Group defines electromobility as commercial vehicles and machines that can utilize an electrical motor to propel or to perform the main purpose of the machine A hybrid is classified as a machine that uses more than one power source and captures and reuses energy that would otherwise be wasted It is a prerequisite that the machine has the BTI ROCKBREAKER SYSTEMS POWER YOUR PRODUCTIVITY BREAK INTO TO PROFITABILITY US EAST 4405423720 US WEST 9513690878 CANADA INTERNATIONAL 5195992015 rockbreaker com Volvo says its prototype electric hybrid wheel loader can deliver up to a 50 percent improvement in fuel efficiency 48 PIT QUARRY November 2016 pitandquarry com
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