JLG Industries showcased several advanced technologies at ConExpo this year, setting the stage for jobsites of the future, the aerial work platform and telehandler manufacturer said. Visitors to the outdoor portion of the JLG booth experienced three new technologies designed to make equipment more productive and profitable.
The first of these technologies was SmartLoad, which includes attachment recognition to ensure the proper load chart is used with the selected attachment; a load management indicator system that visually indicates the current load on the load chart and the weight on the attachment; and a load stability indicator, which indicates forward stability and balance.
“Combining attachment recognition with real-time load data gives operators greater confidence during operation,” said Frank Nerenhausen, Oshkosh Corp. executive vice president and president, JLG Industries. “It also protects fleets by giving operators clear guidance on load capabilities.”
A second new technology, the No Touch Enhanced Detection System, is an advancement of JLG’s existing Soft Touch System. Soft touch uses whisker proximity to stop a machine when it makes contact with an object or structure. No Touch uses advanced infrared technology to sense an object or structure is nearby, first slowing and then stopping the machine before it makes contact. A visual and auditory warning alerts the operator when a boom or scissor approaches a structure. No Touch EDS then stops the machine, limiting its operation to reverse mode unless the operator overrides the system to inch closer to complete the work at hand. If the operator doesn’t override the system, the machine remains in reverse mode until it is safely clear of the obstruction, when it will return to normal operation. No Touch EDS is designed for aviation, aerospace and other industries where operation near costly structures requires extra care.
A static demonstration of a JLG concept boom positioned on uneven terrain demonstrated the third technology, which displayed the machine’s self-leveling chassis automatically leveling itself in a longitudinal and/or horizontal direction depending on the demands of the terrain. It reduces three-wheeling, allowing the machine to maintain traction on sloped or uneven ground. Machines equipped with a self-leveling chassis can traverse slopes up to 10 degrees with the boom elevated, which means greater uptime and less repositioning. This feature enables easier loading, unloading, and transport, as the chassis can be lowered to reduce the total height of the machine.
Inside the JLG booth, a transparent organic light emitting diode (OLED) screen showed the self-leveling chassis working through several jobsite scenarios, including traversing uneven terrain, offloading from a flatbed truck, and working at height on uneven ground.
JLG also demonstrated the future of training with its lift and access equipment simulator. The simulator employs advanced gamification learning, similar to a video game experience, to familiarize operators with the controls and operation of boom lifts and telehandlers. A multi-player version of the simulator enables two operators in the booth to interact with an operator in the Tech Experience Pavilion and experience real scenarios as they complete specific tasks in the same computer-simulated environment.
An interactive display using augmented reality completed the booth demonstrations. Participants entered the worksite of the future, where several animated scenarios played out before visitors on a large screen, featuring multiple pieces of intelligent equipment that communicated and interacted with one another. Visitors used this display to test and explore a variety of current and future technologies, including a self-leveling chassis, autonomous equipment, enhanced detection systems, robotics, and more, showcasing how machines will work smarter and more efficiently in the future.
“Through the JLG booth experience, we have given show attendees a sense of where technology is headed,” said Nerenhausen. “We wanted visitors to understand that many of the technologies on display are already in development at JLG and close to jobsite deployment. We listen to our customers’ needs and pioneer technology to meet their requirements.”
