DOOSAN has announced the launch of the company’s first ‘smart’ excavator.
The DX225LC-7X boasts full electric hydraulic (FEH) technology, integrated 2D machine guidance, semi-automatic 2D machine control, laser receiver, e-fence virtual wall, and a weighing system.
Doosan described FEH technology as similar to the D-ECOPOWER VBO (virtual bleed off) system now incorporated on the standard DX225LC-7 model and all Doosan crawler excavators from the DX350LC-7 and above. In effect, the FEH is a VBO system without pilot pressure lines. The joysticks and pedals are fully electric, but are said to give the operator the same feeling as hydraulic joysticks.
In the FEH system, an electric signal is sent to the central controller, which Doosan said is ‘more precise and provides faster information’. Back pressure and energy loss are therefore eliminated, by delivering the exact amount of oil needed.
The integrated machine guidance system uses sensors mounted on the front and body to recognise the location of each working device and inform/guide it for the operator. Feedback is provided through audio and visual displays.
In the on-board machine control system, the sensors recognise the location of each working device and support/adjust the front operation to the work as planned. In this way, Doosan added, when the operator uses the arm, bucket or boom, they follow the target line.
Thanks to the laser receiver, the system will always receive the reference point, even when the machine changes position, without the operator having to reset the reference point every time the machine is moved.
When the DX225LC-7X is delivered to customers, all the sensors are already calibrated. However, the buckets to be used by the customer need to be calibrated, and no specific tools are needed for this. The system will ask the operator to enter the required measurements to finalise the calibration process with around an hour needed to calibrate three buckets.
There are three major machine control functions: Assist (providing grade assist and bucket assist); Swing Control (for swing assist and swing limit); and Virtual Wall (set ceiling/bottom/wall/swing/cab avoidance/track avoidance/dozer avoidance.
The weighing system and lift assist function measures the current weight of the bucket as the operator is loading materials and warns when the total loading weight exceeds the target.
Doosan revealed it is hoping to provide even more on the DX225LC-7X and is currently working on other additional features to be offered on the machine in the future. These include an upgrade to full Trimble GPS 3D (optional); Engcon ready from factory (plug and play); and a tilting bucket for 2D machine guidance.
