OPERATOR ASSISTANCE DEVICES Ӏ SECTOR REPORT
j new Wolff FX 21 Clear family
(see the tower cranes feature on page 20).
Within the next two years all
Clear cranes from the current production will be delivered with the preinstalled system as standard, says Wolffkran, while existing cranes can be retrofitted. In a second phase the system is also intended to be available for Wolff luffers. Crane manufacturer Liebherr is also looking at stopping the excessive swinging of loads with an in-house designed assistance system. It showed an interactive
prototype of this at Bauma. “Intelligent assistance systems
are there to make work easier for crane operators,” said Tobias Scholz, global market manager, Liebherr-Werk Biberach. “These assistance systems also contribute to safety on site, which is why we are committed to their ongoing further development.”
NEW DISPLAY Liebherr’s new assistance systems will work in harmony with its latest long-life EMS-4 touchscreen display with the new Tower Cranes Operating System (TC-OS) user interface – which comes as standard in EC-B and EC-H series tower crane cabins. The 12-inch display, which
launched in April 2021, has been designed to assist operators as much as possible. The menu structure has been designed so that they always have a good overview. This, it says, offers extra safety and a more comfortable user experience. Even in difficult lighting conditions, which are often encountered in crane cabins, the anti-reflective and dirt-resistant touchscreen is designed to provide optimal readability. There are different viewing
34 CRANES TODAY
Liebherr’s
Remote Control teleoperation system
modes available for day and night work. The display can also be tilted and rotated. An external screen for the hook camera is no longer necessary as the image can be integrated into the EMS-4. This means that all available data is visible to the crane operator on one device. The new display also increases operator comfort in terms of crane cabin settings, says Liebherr. The air-conditioning system and windshield wipers can be controlled via the multi-touch display. It is also possible to use the ergonomically positioned membrane keys for this. Everything is networked together so that each control element displays the same information, says Liebherr. Also at Bauma 2022 Liebherr showcased its LiReCon teleoperation unit for tower cranes which, it claims, offers an insight into what future machine operation will look like and the opportunities this will bring. Liebherr’s vision is that the LiReCon teleoperation unit will
one day make it possible to control cranes from the ground. For now the LiReCon has a stand that can be stationed directly where the site supervisor works enabling crane operators and site supervisors to interact with each other and discuss changes in person without delay. LiReCon also offers the option
of switching between different tower cranes, enabling a flexible response to situations on site as they happen. Whatever the future holds it is clear that, for now, ensuring a nice, comfortable environment for the operator to concentrate in is important. As is the use of the best technology possible to increase safety and efficiency. Whether this technology ultimately evolves to take over entirely from the operator only time will tell. Until then, though, we can rest assured that the crane operator can be supported in the best way possible thanks to the work of engineers from both specialist providers and crane manufacturers alike.
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