The evolution of mobile machines
In agriculture, construction, mining and municipal management, major efforts are underway to make operating processes safer, more efficient and to increase quality using mobile machines. At the same time, these sectors are facing a shortage of skilled professionals.
In order to achieve these goals and counteract shortages in the labor market, today's mobile machines are rapidly evolving. They are becoming more intelligent: Functions are increasingly performed autonomously or semi-autonomously and machines are networked with each other and the cloud.
Join us to learn how cutting-edge technologies are revolutionizing these industries and making significant contributions to a more sustainable and productive future.
Digitalization
Mobile automation solutions require the integration of complex systems and technologies that must work together seamlessly. Collecting, processing and analyzing large amounts of data from various sources can be challenging and require robust data management and analysis tools. Different machines and systems must be able to communicate with each other, which requires standardized protocols. The systems must also be scalable to allow for future expansions and upgrades without affecting the existing infrastructure. Mobile machines are also often exposed to harsh environmental conditions that require robust and reliable technologies.
Automation
Autonomous functions are crucial for many applications in mobile automation. By integrating sensors and advanced algorithms, mobile devices and vehicles can navigate autonomously, recognize obstacles and plan routes. This allows tasks in various industries to be performed efficiently and accurately. These include transporting loads and materials, agricultural applications, inspection and monitoring, safety tasks, as well as logistics and delivery. Autonomous systems optimize work processes, reduce costs, increase safety and open possibilities for new applications.
Electrification
Electrification provides numerous advantages that are revolutionizing mobile automation. Electrified systems increase efficiency by optimizing the use of resources and reducing emissions, resulting in more environmentally friendly solutions. Thanks to lower maintenance requirements and energy costs, they provide long-term cost savings at the same time. Their flexibility allows customized applications, while their seamless integration into digital environments ensures improved control and monitoring. Electrification promotes such innovations as regenerative energy systems and intelligent energy management, which make mobile automation more efficient and sustainable.
Partnerships
The shift from in-house production to partnerships with automation experts in mobile automation presents a major change for companies. This paradigm shift has many advantages: Companies can focus more on their core expertise, thereby increasing their efficiency and deploying existing resources in a more targeted way, while benefiting from external expertise and innovative technologies at the same time. These partnerships also allow faster adaptation to market changes and solutions customized to customer needs, which ultimately results in an improved market position.
B&R, your partner for mobile machine automation
Agricultural and forestry machines
For use in harsh environments, B&R provides operating devices and touch panels with user-friendly interfaces that are well-suited for operating and monitoring agricultural and forestry vehicles. A wide range of sensors and actuators enables data acquisition and motion control in agricultural and forestry vehicles. These components collect information about the machine status and perform specific actions.
Municipal vehicles
B&R sensors and actuators take data acquisition and motion control in municipal vehicles to a whole new level. These components record precise information about the vehicle's status and perform specific actions. Using diagnostic functions integrated into their automation solutions, B&R supports preventive maintenance and troubleshooting, minimizing downtime and maximizing the vehicle's operating time.
Construction and mining machinery
B&R offers a wide-ranging portfolio of automation solutions for the construction and mining industries that help to improve the efficiency, reliability and safety of machines. These include robust and reliable control systems, which have been specially developed for use in mobile machines. These controllers can be used to automate various functions in construction and mining machines, from simple tasks such as motor control to complex processes such as machine monitoring and diagnostics.
Automated guided vehicles & autonomous mobile robots
B&R allows the seamless integration of AGVs and AMRs into higher-level control and IT systems to enable multiple vehicles to efficiently communicate and coordinate. This also includes networking with other machines and devices in the production environment. Flexible and scalable automation solutions adapt to the changing needs of AGV and AMR fleets. This also includes the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to continuously improve the performance and efficiency of the vehicles.
Whitepaper: Scalable automation for mobile machines
The demands placed on modern mobile machines have changed significantly over the years. New features are being added all the time, and the demands for efficiency and quality are higher than ever. Powerful and scalable automation systems are required. B&R makes it easy to implement automation solutions for construction and mining machines, municipal vehicles and applications in agriculture and forestry. Read more in our white paper.
Control and I/O system: Flexible and uncompromising
Agricultural and construction machine manufacturers face the challenge of quickly implementing intelligent (semi)autonomous machine functions and maintaining them over time. With its modular X90 controller and I/O system, B&R continues to open new possibilities for automating agricultural machines. For machine manufacturers, controllers in different performance classes are available - for simple as well as high-end machines. The connection of sensors to the X90 controller, the exchange of diagnostic information and the direct control of stepper motors are easily possible using various option boards.
Mobile industrial PCs for harsh outdoor use
The shift in agriculture to self-propelled machines to increase productivity has long since begun. Autonomous machines need data, for example, from various sensors to perform all their tasks. The Automation PC for outdoor use can collect large amounts of data from multiple agricultural machines and forward it to higher-level systems. For example, a tractor and combine harvester can exchange information about speed and loading capacity. The exchange of information between agricultural machines has a beneficial effect on the way they operate in the field.
Monitoring: Harsh conditions – Reliable operation
The world of agriculture is synonymous with rain, dirt, heat and vibrations. It is essential that the operating devices ensure problem-free operation, even under unfriendly conditions. A die-cast aluminum housing provides mechanical stability, and the multi-touch display can even be used in the rain. This makes the Power Panel T50 mobile, like the Automation PC 3100 mobile, the perfect solution for use in the harsh outdoors. It is browser-only device and is connected to the visualization server via Ethernet. The projected capacitive touch screen can even be operated in the rain or while wearing gloves.
Electric drive solutions for industrial and off-road vehicles
The transportation of people, goods and raw materials is responsible for more than 25% of global energy consumption and almost 30% of global carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). ABB offers products and solutions to improve the energy efficiency of heavy commercial vehicles through electrification. Learn more about how to improve the efficiency of heavy commercial vehicles and reduce their emissions and operating.
Faster development with software components
B&R's unique ecosystem opens up new possibilities for machine and plant engineering. Despite increasingly complex customer requirements, our integrated software development approach enables our customers to minimize engineering costs and time-to-market while meeting all quality requirements. Read how Automation Studio reduces training costs and how mapp Technology is revolutionizing machine and system software development.
Success Stories
BEDNAR FMT specializes in the manufacture of agricultural machinery for tillage, seeding, row crop cultivation, mulching, fertilization and incorporation of crop residues. The company relies on the X90 system for its seed drills and is committed to innovative technologies.
In cooperation with B&R and the X90 modular control system, the Austrian company Benzberg has developed a robust, modular control system for industrial and construction applications. The main functions include high-precision tilt compensation, an efficient weighing system and GPS monitoring.
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