Technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the last century, and more advancements are on the horizon. Let’s look at some key developments in the heavy machinery industry.
Controlling Heavy Equipment Remotely
While many professionals may prefer being behind the wheel when operating heavy machinery, there can be instances when that is dangerous or infeasible. It might be possible, however, to control the machinery remotely. This way, work can continue while various risks and hassles are mitigated.
Remote control may be needed for rock quarries to reduce the risk of injury due to falling rocks. According to the International Journal of Advanced Academic Research, the United States aggregate industry alone produces north of 1 billion tons of crushed stone per year. If landslides are a risk where your project is being conducted, it’s better to use remote equipment when possible.
Using Drones for Support
Drones can sometimes offer a lot of use. Many companies and operators are using drones to keep an eye on projects and to identify any emerging threats or dangers. They can also give you a sky-view of your project.
Tapping Into the Power of the Internet of Things (IoT)
One of the biggest trends in technology in recent years has been the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT). Thirty years ago, only select devices could connect to the Internet and often for only a limited time. Now, multiple pieces of technology can be connected to share data across platforms.
Some pieces of heavy equipment are getting involved in IoT for better field service support. Doing so allows site managers to monitor the equipment, including its position, performance, and more. If something happens, the construction company can be warned.
Leveraging Analytical Data for Maintenance and Upkeep
Some pieces of heavy machinery now have built-in sensors that can monitor for potential problems, like low oil levels, high temperatures, or various other issues. Maintenance and upkeep for construction equipment can be quite intensive and manually looking everything over can be cumbersome. Remote sensors not only reduce the need to see machinery in person but they can also be used to gather data to generate predictive analytics. For example, after crunching the data, you may find that oil needs to be topped up every 2,000 miles or so.
If you’re looking for heavy equipment providers, get in touch at Sy Aggregate. We can help you select the right tools for the job.