Drawing on a decade of experience and understanding of the intelligent machine control system, Komatsu now offers its kit as a simple and flexible technological enhancement for a broad range of standard Komatsu machines as well as mixed fleets. Jim Venerus, product marketing general manager said: “Customers tell us that productivity, real time jobsite information, and keeping pace with digital transformation are some of their biggest challenges today. Komatsu has developed the 3D Machine Guidance kit in response to these needs.”

The kit provides an accessible way to add 2D and 3D machine guidance to any crawler or wheeled excavator from 13t to 120t. The kit can be customised with various optional additions enabling it to better accommodate each customer's machine configurations and operating conditions. Consistent with Komatsu's ongoing dedication to improving jobsite safety, a 3D safety zone feature has been integrated into the system. This allows customers to create and import avoidance zones. The feature serves as a preventive strategy, sending alerts to operators when they are in proximity to hazards such as powerlines, underground utilities, walkways, or public roads. The 3D kit's automatic file conversion is compatible with most common design file formats. This ensures a seamless integration with customers' existing 3D systems from different manufacturers.

In addition to the standard machine guidance functionality, the 3D Machine Guidance kit comes with an integrated payload meter option for Komatsu machines. This feature allows for weighing of materials, eliminating the need for manual checks and interruptions. This boosts productivity by ensuring each truck is loaded to its optimal capacity without risking overload.

Besides being a standard 3D GNSS system, the 3D Machine Guidance kit is also integrated into the Smart Construction suite as a first step towards optimising the earthmoving process. It works as an IoT tool automatically collecting terrain and payload data, which can be visualised and analysed using Smart Construction solutions and expert advice. “Combined with Komatsu’s connected services, the 3D Machine Guidance kit meets the common challenges of our customers today to deliver productivity gains via 2D and 3D machine guidance, real time connectivity, and the ability to make data driven decisions,” concluded Venerus.