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Topcon Positioning has announced its MC-Max machine control solution.

Based on its MC-X machine control platform, and backed by Sitelink3D — the company’s real-time, cloud-based data management ecosystem — MC-Max is a scalable solution for mixed-fleet heavy equipment environments. It is designed to adapt to owners’ machine control and data integration needs as their fleets and workflows expand.

THE MC-MAX SOLUTION OFFERS FLEXIBLE MOUNTING SOLUTIONS, AS WELL AS OPTIONAL AUTOMATIC BLADE AND BUCKET CONTROL FOR A VARIETY OF MACHINES

The flexible service options include Realpoint, the Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) service, and Starpoint, a Precise Point Positioning (PPP) service. The different services have varying delivery methods, coverage, and reliable centimeter-level accuracy. Under a flexible subscription model, customers can purchase to suit their needs. Additionally, an RTK service supported by PPP, Skybridge, is available to maintain connectivity and productivity if the customer temporarily leaves RTK coverage.

MC-Max increases processing power, speed, accuracy, versatility and reliability; and can be installed on a full range of dozers and excavators, using the same basic modular components. Modern, redesigned user and product interfaces were developed based on real-world applications and customer feedback and provide a simplified and immersive user experience that allows operators to learn the system easily.

“With MC-Max, we’ve created a solution that is flexible and can continue to grow as a contractor’s needs and capabilities expand,” said Jamie Williamson, executive vice president, Topcon Positioning Group. “This new solution provides improved scalability and precision in the field and offers business owners real-time data integration, connectivity and resource management capabilities across their entire workflow.” The MC-Max solution offers flexible mounting solutions, as well as optional automatic blade and bucket control for a variety of machines. The system also provides a full battery of positioning technologies ranging from slope control to laser, multi-constellation GNSS, robotic total station and Millimeter GPS systems.

MC-Max provides project managers a real-time view of machine positions, activities and onsite progress, and is compatible with a wide range of site communications systems.

For more information on MC-Max and the MC-X Platform, visit www.topconpositioning.com/gb/

Further Reading:

• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Read more about Automation on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/automation
• Read more about Topcon on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/topcon
• Learn more about Fleet Technology @ www.fieldservicenews.com/fleet-technology
• Find out more more about Topcon Positioning @ www.topconpositioning.com
• Follow Topcon on Twitter @ twitter.com/topcon_today

Topcon Positioning Group announces an expansion of the Topnet Live Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) network of correction solutions to support today’s work environments.

The newly expanded global network now has more types of correction services and subscription options. This growth is a result of the increasing demand for digitalisation in various industries including construction, surveying, machine control, and agriculture.

TOPNET OFFERS A NUMBER OF CORRECTION SOLUTIONS TO SUPPOT TODAY'S WORK ENVIRONMENTS AND HELPS TEAMS ACHIEVE CONTINUOUS ACCURACY WITH ALWAYS ON-SERVICE COVERAGE

The flexible service options include Realpoint, the Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) service, and Starpoint, a Precise Point Positioning (PPP) service. The different services have varying delivery methods, coverage, and reliable centimeter-level accuracy. Under a flexible subscription model, customers can purchase to suit their needs. Additionally, an RTK service supported by PPP, Skybridge, is available to maintain connectivity and productivity if the customer temporarily leaves RTK coverage.

“The Topnet Live RTK network, first established over a decade ago, continues to grow with 5,100 reference stations globally, a 14% increase in the last year,” said Ian Stilgoe, Topcon vice president. “We are growing throughout the world in areas where there is an increasing demand for productivity and accuracy through digitalisation, with strong growth particularly in North America and Europe. We are focused on continued expansion to maximise support for our customers, so they always have the best options globally.”

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) supplying automotive, industrial Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous robotics and all sectors that require positioning, navigation and guidance also benefit from the enhanced robustness of the network. OEMs can sell their hardware with correction services onboard and preconfigured for immediate use by customers, regardless of geographic location, with flexible subscription and licensing options to suit the exact need.

Topnet Live uses all four GNSS constellations: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou. The customer benefits from continuous accuracy and always-on service coverage. This service provides these distinct advantages in the industries it supports:

Survey, Construction and Machine Control. Topnet Live removes the need for individual base stations, dramatically increasing flexibility, productivity and safety and can drive large-scale projects with constant, reliable accuracy.

Precision Agriculture. The solution delivers fast, consistent, accurate positioning any time of day or night for soil preparation, seeding, spreading, spraying and harvesting.

OEMs, System Integrators, Product Designers. The solution provides scalable precise positioning and supports the implementation of flexible business models tailored to fit both OEMs’ and their customers’ needs.

Further Reading:

• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Read more about Automation on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/sustainability
• Learn more about Topnet Live @ topconpositioning.com/topnetlive
• Find out more more about Topcon Positioning @ www.topconpositioning.com
• Follow Topcon Positioning on Twitter @ twitter.com/topcon_today

Combined Soil Stabilisation Ltd increased the accuracy of the earthworks process using machine control technology on a major road project in East Anglia. 

The project will see the development of a new 20km carriageway, stretching from the A47 in Postwick with Witton, east of Norwich, to the A1067 at Fakenham Road, north of Taverham. Once complete, the new northern development route will provide a semi-circle road around Norwich to help ease local areas of traffic congestion.

Combined Soil Stabilisation Ltd, a leading subcontractor within the soil stabilisation and earthworks industry, was appointed to stabilise the site won soils and prepare surfaces across the site ahead of the tarmac laying process. The team at Combined Soil Stabilisation Ltd needed equipment that would allow their graders to work to an extremely tight accuracy.

Before introducing the Topcon technology, we would have required engineers to be on the site, measuring and marking out with sticks, tape and ropesThe team, who were working near obstructions such as bridges and tunnels, which can cause barriers for GPS signals, also needed a system that can deliver precise positioning data even when signals may be blocked.

Combined Soil Stabilisation Ltd chose the Topcon 3D Local Position System (LPS) Robotic to be fitted to its graders. The LPS system uses an additional robotic total station and local networks to gather positioning data, allowing constant contact, accuracy and control for the machine operator.

“Before tarmac could be laid to create the topcoat of the road, the soil surface needed to be cut down and prepared within millimetres of accuracy. In this case, we were working to +/-10mm,” explains Stefan Stansfield, Managing Director at Combined Soil Stabilisation Ltd.

“Tarmac is an expensive material so it was vital that the soil surface was smooth and precise, to ensure that no additional product was needed to create a more even or level surface. Traditional methods of grading and GPS software we’ve used in the past would have made getting a tight trim tolerance of +/-10mm near impossible, as it wouldn’t have been accurate enough.

“Before introducing the Topcon technology, we would have required engineers to be on the site, measuring and marking out with sticks, tape and ropes. Instead, using the 3D LPS Robotic system on our Graders meant that we required less engineers to operate the machinery, saving us time, money and improving health and safety on site, as well as allowing us to work to the accuracy required. Topcon’s technology and equipment also helped to increase our efficiency on site and made the job much less labour intensive.

Work on the northern development route is still ongoing and will include the addition of two roundabouts and bridges to carry the dual carriageway over existing roads.

Stefan concluded: “The technology is definitely at the top end of the industry and Topcon has some of the most advanced local positioning systems that can be fitted to plant. Using the 3D LPS system in our Graders, we could instantly see where the machines were and check the level of trim tolerance. The equipment made it easy for us to save, not only in terms of time and money, but also on the amount of tarmac that could be wasted during the project.”

For more information about the Topcon technology used, please visit: www.topconpositioning.com/en-gb.

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