Caterpillar announces the release of Cat® COMMAND for Compaction, an operator-assisted technology that automates the soil compaction process and helps contractors achieve compaction quality. The COMMAND for Compaction system is available for use on select Cat vibratory soil compactors as a dealer-installed kit on both new and existing B-Series machines.
An in-cab display with an intuitive, touchscreen interface makes setup easy and the system connects to common base stations with no back office or design needed. The operator uses the machine to map the boundaries of the area to be compacted and enters the compaction parameters. Once the operator places the machine in “auto,” the system will control the propulsion, steering, and vibration of the machine. Recent jobs are saved in the system and can be accessed through the touchscreen interface.
An integrated object detection system alerts the operator if an object is in the pathway. If there is an area that cannot be compacted using vibration, the operator can choose to turn the vibration system off and give control back to the system once the area has been passed.
By automating the compaction process, operator skill gaps are minimized by providing consistent results based on operator inputs. COMMAND for Compaction enables compaction quality by maintaining a constant speed and correct pass count with consistent and precise overlap, allowing contractors to hit compaction targets more frequently.
Cat COMMAND for Compaction will be available in first quarter 2020. For more, contact your local Cat dealer.