A little over a year ago, we introduced the Topcon X63i excavator system to the Australian Market. Unlike the X63 system, which continues in parallel, the X63i is designed specifically for excavators – and is cheaper! The reason for this is that an excavator GPS system is used for guidance rather than machine control, so there is no need to hook into the hydraulic system – saving around $20k in system cost. A further upside is that being significantly more compact, the X63i can often be integrated into the excavator whereas the bulkier machine control systems are generally removed from a machine at night. The downside is that the system can only be used on other excavators or
Ascending Technologies pushes the boundaries of Unpiloted Aerial System (UAS) technology with the release of Trinity autopilot control. Developed as part of the E-Volo project, which saw the first piloted, automatic multicopter take to the air, Trinity was designed to deliver the safety required to put a person on-board an UAV – click here to watch the video! Trinity includes three Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) that enhance in-flight performance, precision and safety. With triple redundancy, triple processing power and continuous position, altitude and orientation checks during flight, Trinity delivers unbeatable stability in the air. Built-in smarts such as automatic centre of gravity adjustment enable the UAV to compensate for changes in battery, payload or camera lens. New sensors and micro-processors
Australia’s mining industry contributes $121 billion to the country’s economy each year. Despite this huge figure, a report released in 2014 by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Mining for efficiency, listed Australia as the second least productive mining region in the world, second only to Africa. Our mining boom of recent years set the scene for volume strategies that neglected true efficiency for people and equipment. Worldwide the industry’s open cut equipment productivity has declined by 20% over the past seven years despite the demand for increased volumes. As a result, Australia’s declining productivity is one of the most important challenges for our economy. Australia is the fastest growing nation in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with strong
