Connected construction machine "CAT CONNECT SOLUTIONS" -The Interview with Nippon Cata Pillar Hamano

Japan Caterpillar that sells and serves construction machinery and diesel engines.In 2016, the Cat Connect Solutions (Cat Connect Solutions), which manages the construction machine and site with data, was announced.This time, we interviewed the connected machine.

・ Those who talked about the Japan Caterpillar Joint Company Marketing Department Hideo Hamano

・ Listle Co., Ltd. CEoh / IohTNEWS Koji Koizumi

table of contents

What is Caterpillar Cat Connect Solutions?

Koizumi: Please tell us about your company's efforts.

Hamano: CAT CohNNECT SohLUTIohNS uses satellite and portable radio waves to use telematics to get data from construction machinery, and through an interface provided by cloud services that combine data obtained from people inspection and other analytical services.Customers can comprehensively manage four data: "Machine Management", "Production Management", "Construction Management", and "Safety Management".

Hamano: First of all, "machine management" is the information of the construction machine itself we handle.We provide various "mechanical management" services with the aim of making it easy to manage and maintain your construction machinery, and to reduce the number of holidays as much as possible.

The second point is the "production management" of the customer.There are real -time and some that are not real -time, but we provide basic data mainly to increase customer productivity, such as how much work you worked and how much cycle time you are traveling.increase.

The third point is "construction management" by ICT represented by i-constraction.It is a service that allows you to see where you are digging in real time and how much you are digging on a cloud service.

Finally, "safety management" provides information to ensure the safety of customers.

This is a typical four elements required for on -site management.We provide services based on this.Next, I will introduce the details of each.

Machine management

Hamano: As for the data of the previous telematics, the data that can be obtained depends on the contract type, but you can see how the machine is running and how the condition is in any contract.

The actual screen looks like this.

Hamano: The dashboard displays when the machine has operated.Warnings that can be confirmed on the dashboard include events and alerts.

"Event" is a record of an abnormality or event that has occurred in the machine, for example, the engine is over -turned, the temperature is rising, and the mechanism is picked up from a self -diagnostic sensor built into the machine.

It is a very effective data to deal with a major failure, identify the cause when a failure occurs, and what events have been accumulated so far.

For example, a car is common, but if you repeatedly put it in the back gear while moving forward, the transmission may be damaged early.Since all such logs remain, it is very effective when investigating the cause.

Then, an "alert" that informs the abnormality of the construction machine.You will be warned that you should deal with the sensor broken or overheated immediately.You can also see it on the screen, and you can send it to the email address set by the customer in real time, so you can also deal immediately.

In addition, there is a service that is called tire monitoring overseas, which always monitor the air pressure of the tire and the temperature inside the tire.Construction machinery tires are very expensive, and bursts can lead to major accidents.This is not yet included in Japan because of the Japanese radio law, but it has already been provided as a product overseas.

These are the summary of electronic data mainly obtained in telematics, but this is not enough to properly manage machines.For example, information such as actually leaking oil or broken structures made of iron can not be picked up from the sensor.

The place to supplement such things is the visual inspection conducted by our serviceman on site.Human inspections and images, etc. are converted into data, and the service "S".oh.S ".This is a service that extracts a sample of oil, fuel, cooling water, etc. every certain period and analyzes the ingredients and contamination in the liquid, which is very useful for early detection of failures and planned prevention and maintenance.

Hamano: For example, if you know that there are many chromiums in the engine oil, you can estimate which part is wearing.If you compare it to a human, it resembles a blood test, but I regularly look at the condition of the engine by looking at the progress.

We use such information to analyze the cause of the events that occurred by combining the data of the previous telematics with the past repair history.

In addition, information such as layouts and operating environments in the field where the construction machine operates is also converted into data.For example, when the brake wears quickly, it will help to assume the cause without actually seeing the customer site, and the cause of wear is the operation of the machine operator by combining it with the event data obtained from the machine.You can estimate whether it is affecting or a site environment.

In this way, not only telematics data but also information collected by humans is converted into data, and comprehensive analysis is possible at the CM Center (Condition Monitoring Center), making it possible to use the appropriate use and extension of the machine.We also provide services that submit advice and reports to customers.

Production control

Hamano: Construction machines have loading machines loaded on site and transport machines that transport loads, and specific models have a measuring device that weighs the load.The amount of these loads is converted into data, and in real time, "How much work has been completed in today's work goals".

What I can do here is, for example, if you select a machine with a customer and bring it to the site, but there is not enough progress to the target transportation, based on the grasp of the actual amount.We can propose the best model for the site, such as "I will not be able to make another size machine in time".

In addition to managing the actual amount of work, we propose more optimal machines for work and target values.Since fuel consumption can also be seen in combination, we can calculate productivity per fuel and propose machine formation and on -site layouts to reduce costs.

Working costs by construction machinery do not run like a car, so basically it depends on how much soil can be moved per Luin.To enlarge that amount leads to an increase in work productivity, and uses these data.

Construction management

Hamano: The following figure shows a real -time construction status on a map using three -dimensional (3D) data.

The i-constructure proposed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is 3D construction.Construction using 3D can be used in accurate and low skill level, but is still used only in limited sites.One of these factors is that the equipment required for 3D construction is very expensive.It is considered that it is quite severe if customers can make a profit by constructing them in 3D.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has been conducting information on information, but I think the main cause that is difficult to spread is such a place.Therefore, Nippon Caterpillar proposes a 2D introduction that can be upgraded to 3D when needed, rather than having customers who are working on information construction work.Both 2D and 3D can be mounted on most machines, but 2D construction costs are very cheap compared to 3D construction.

The i-constructure is also about the whole process, but the final goal is to convert, visualize, manage, and improve the whole in a slightly wider sense than i-constructure in our services.

Safety management

Hamano: You are very interested in safety, and it is one of the trends of construction machinery manufacturers that enhance the skills around here, and many construction companies are focusing.Warnings are one of the simple information, but not only that, for example, if you enter a dangerous part, you will be warned, and if you get out of this area, you can get a warning.

What I am starting on a trial basis is that I have the workers on the site wear a special safety vest, create a hazard map in a place that seems to be in contact with heavy equipment, and change the layout of the site before the accident occurs.And provide a telematics service that can ensure safety.When the sensor detects the RFID tag embedded in the vest or helmet, the machine side reads and maps the location information that this tag has to create a hazard map.

Now, every construction machine manufacturer is working on sensors for obstacles.There are various types of sound waves, ultrasonic waves, and images recognition.Until now, the warning was just rang, but the current trend is to combine automatic stops.

The caterpillar is called Cat Connect Solutions, compiling these machine management, production management, construction management, and safety management services.

Hamano: The user interface for customers to actually use the Cat Connect Solutions service is called a vision link, and equipment that communicates is called a product link.

Koizumi: As a manufacturer on the side of the construction machine, I think these are becoming a matter of course, but are they buying the buyers as usual?

Hamano: Data is being provided by a variety of companies, but the use of telematics on the customer side is in the future, and customers feel the benefits of the data and services that we use.I think you are using it.

Koizumi: I heard that the reconstruction of the Olympics in the Olympics and the reconstruction of the earthquake and construction, so I think that even those who do not have so high construction skills can use your service well, but 2020.The year is coming soon.

Hamano: As you mentioned, ICT technology such as machine control, guidance, and 2D and 3D is an effective technology that compensates for insufficient skills and lack of experience.However, it is probably not if you use these technologies to increase your productivity.I think that the cost will not decrease without the use of ICT technology as I have just mentioned and the whole picture that manages it and improves the site.

Koizumi: This industry is also short of people, right?

Hamano: That's right.For example, there are few people who can drive using a 3D function of a 3D function, but can create 3D data in the civil engineering industry.It doesn't work as well.

Koizumi: That's right.Even if you make a golf course, you have to get 3DCAD data on the golf course first.

Hamano: You have to pour it into the machine and remember it.There are few such technicians.

Koizumi: Isn't that kind of person dispatched by your company?

Hamano: In order to spread the ICT, we hope that we will be able to use it for ourselves, so we are holding a workshop for customers to learn how to use it.It is a major role in ourselves to increase the profitability of our customers by learning and utilizing our own technology.

Koizumi: The construction machine itself is gradually getting smarter, and as the process is improved, the work environment has improved a lot.It seems that the solution of safety measures was often not actually used, but is the consciousness in that area changing?

Hamano: That's right.Until now, the solution was that the operator should do something according to the sensor warning.In that case, the operator itself must judge the warning.It is a human being at the end, as the person only asks for a sensor that does not notice.The current movement is to stop it automatically.

For example, I don't know if I have a seat belt, but I don't know from the outside, but a third party knows the situation, such as leaving a plot or a log remaining when it approaches without a seat belt.Sometimes you can.I think that is now in that direction.

Koizumi: It feels like a car telematics.

Hamano: Automatically stops technically.

Automation of caterpillar in the future

Hamano: Finally, I will talk about Caterpillar's future.As the data on site becomes more and more sucked up, data analysis becomes very important, so we will focus on what kind of services to provide it.This is the story that I say in the United States.

The ICT construction machine has a machine guidance function and a machine control function.The function of machine guidance is a machine equipped with a function to guide operator operations on audio or screen, and the machine control is a function that controls the machine halfway (semi -auto), and as it evolves more and more, it is still evolving.The goal in the future is automatic driving.

Machine guidance is still cheaper than machine control, but the accuracy and productivity are much better compared to machines with no standard.

Currently, it is a semi -automatic machine control, but the final goal is still automated.Eventually we are heading for unmanned.

Koizumi: If it's not vast, can this be useless?

Hamano: With the current technology, it is limited to simple tasks in some places.It is difficult to realize that it can be realized in a place where people are in a narrow site like Japan and the construction machinery is running.

However, as I mentioned earlier, automatic stops have already been realized, so I don't think it's impossible in that sense.Considering ICT and AI, I think that the final goal is automated in any case.

Now it is still stopped by supplementing humanization and skilled skills, but it should eventually aim to replace it.After all, I think that getting data is key to automation.

Koizumi: Will the caterpillar itself provide cloud services?

Hamano: That's right.Global data is accumulated because the location information and movement of the construction machine come in centrally.

Koizumi: What is the place where there is no network?

Hamano: It is a satellite.If you want to see our overseas construction machine on a vision link, you can still see it.

Koizumi: When has it been networked from what?

Hamano: If only simple data, I think it was already connected about 15 years ago.The GPS was around the 1980s, and the first product link was acquired by the machine data.

Koizumi: That's close to the history of telematics.

Hamano: The rest depends on the module of the sensor and computer on the construction machine side.It is a technology that simply skips the data of the acquired sensor, so if the computer module is not properly, valid data will not be born.That developed.

Koizumi: That's the development of PC technology.

Hamano: When it developed, I was going to connect my computer to the construction machine, but I thought I would fly.

Koizumi: In the previous stage, you were doing the data on your computer.

Hamano: At that time, it was an unusual sight for the mechanic to go to the construction machine with a personal computer.It was an era when there was a veteran who heard the sound and repaired it.

Koizumi: I see.That means you have come that far.In terms of development, the future is the flow of automation.

Hamano: Until now, it was all about collecting data from the construction machine side.This time, on the contrary, you will be able to access the construction machine side, for example, you will be able to send a program that can be troubled if you have a simple trouble.

Instead of what to do with the data obtained from the machine, it is possible to access the machine side and change the inside of the machine as a new service.

Now, in the case of a construction machine using 3D, if there is a design change on the site, it is now possible to send the changed data by Wi-Fi and remember the machine during construction.。

Koizumi: The technique is progressing for the actuates part, so you can communicate not only on going up but also on the descent.understood.Thank you for today.

[Related link] ・ Japan Caterpillar "Cat Connect Solutions"

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