Machine controls
for mobile machines

The initial situation & challenge:

A central control system that enables several driving and steering modes was to be developed for a working machine for large-scale agriculture. Three independent drive circuits, four hydraulic motors and the ability to rotate the wheels by 90° when changing modes were required. At the same time, various controller functions such as load limitation, brake and pressure control as well as individual wheel drive control were to be combined in one platform.

Our solution:

The control system was realized on the basis of the modular VÖLKEL platform with customer-specific software:

• Speed control of each individual axle
• Anti-slip control of the front axle
• Pressure control of the rear axle
• Steering algorithm with three position controllers
• Automatic wheel swivel by 90° when changing mode
• Circular path compensation for cornering
• Integration of load limiting, constant pressure and brake pressure control
• Dynamic calibration of each hydraulic circuit
• Integration of a radio remote control

The result / customer benefit:

• Central control of all drive, brake and steering functions
• Significantly simplified operation and increased operational safety
• Flexibly expandable thanks to modular software modules
• Noticeably shorter development time and fast time to market

Time to Market:

Development and commissioning took place in just 3 months

Conclusion:

This resulted in a complex control solution that was brought to market maturity in a very short time. The result: high reliability, simple operation and future-proof thanks to modular expandability.

The initial situation & challenge:

A manufacturer of forestry vehicles required a central machine control system that integrates travel, crane and winch functions as well as comfort and diagnostic functions. Up to now, many things have been done using mechanical-hydraulic solutions. The aim was to develop a modern, scalable control system that combines all functions and enables convenient operation.

Our solution:

VÖLKEL developed a customized control solution based on the VÖLKEL platform:

• Extended standard drive control with limit load, overspeed and brake pressure regulator, tractive force maintenance and diesel management with visualization of exhaust gas treatment
• Activation of parking and pendulum brakes, differential locks, gear
• Comfort control for lights, windshield wipers, horn, signaling device and camera
• Crane control with free joystick assignment for up to 6 driver profiles plus front and rear blade, clamping bench, grid and rope support
• Winch control with double drum operation
• CAN connection for the diesel engine, radio control, joystick, accelerator pedals, steering column switch, air conditioning, pressure and temperature sensors and crane valves
• Depending on the machine configuration, modular structure consisting of master and slave controls and a robust 10″ display

The result / customer benefit:

• Central control of all functions instead of many individual solutions
• Significantly simplified operation and diagnostics thanks to standardized system
• Flexible adaptation to different vehicle variants
• Greater operational reliability and efficiency thanks to precise controls

Time to Market:

Development, validation and commissioning in just 6 months – and therefore noticeably faster than comparable projects on the market.

Conclusion:

Thanks to the modular VÖLKEL control system, the forestry vehicle was ready for series production more quickly. The solution combines all core functions in a central system and increases user-friendliness – a clear competitive advantage thanks to shorter development times.

The initial situation & challenge:

The excavators are used both in earthworks and for rail applications (road-rail excavators). Different performance classes require flexible control solutions. A uniform control system was required for all machine types, which automatically parameterizes itself during the production process (one software for all machines including data records).

Our solution:

Development of individually implemented software on customer-specific hardware. The solution includes:

• Automatic parameterization by retrieving stored data records for each machine type
• Diesel engine management via CAN SAE-J1939
• Control of the LS valve
• Highly dynamic control for the optimum power point
• ECO mode with automatic speed reduction
• Communication with the vehicle control system

The result / customer benefit:

One machine control for all machine types. Automatic parameterization reduces complexity, increases efficiency and allows the machines to be used flexibly in different performance classes.

Time to Market:

The hardware was realized within approx. two months.
The software was available as a prototype after a few weeks.
The development time for the pilot series of the first machine type was 3 months.

Conclusion:

The combination of customer-specific hardware and individually developed software resulted in an efficient control solution that covers various machine types and significantly accelerates time to market.

The initial situation & challenge:

A new mobile milling unit was to be developed for use in road construction, which efficiently removes verges from the roadside to improve water drainage. The previous solutions were based on mechanical-hydraulic controls and offered neither centralized operation nor digital billing options. The aim was to develop an integrated control system with a modern user interface and automatic distance recording – as the basis for a future-proof pay-per-use model.

Our solution:

Based on the modular VÖLKEL platform, a tailor-made control solution was created in a very short time:

• Implementation of over 70 hydraulic functions through networked controls and I/O extensions
• Individually programmed 10″ touch display for intuitive operation
• Integration of joysticks for precise control
• Limit load control for travel drive and tiller
• Connection of a modem for automatic data acquisition and VÖLKEL Cloud connection

The result / customer benefit:

• Prototype in just 2 months – significantly shorter development time than usual on the market
• Centralized control of all functions, less effort due to elimination of mechanical-hydraulic solutions
• Transparent, automatic distance recording for billing purposes
• Future-proof connectivity through cloud integration and data service
• More operating convenience and productivity thanks to modern HMI touch display

Time to Market:

It took just two months from the start of the project to the first operational prototype – a decisive competitive advantage for the customer.

Conclusion:

With the VÖLKEL platform, the mobile banquet milling machine was not only brought up to date technically, but also quickly reached market maturity.

The initial situation & challenge:

A control solution was to be developed for a new generation of mobile harbor cranes that reliably controls both the complex working and driving operations. In addition to the implementation of the working and steering functions, the focus was on monitoring the load torque limitation and an intuitive operating concept. The challenge: A large number of hydraulic functions and sensors had to be integrated without unnecessarily extending the development time.

Our solution:

A tailor-made control architecture was realized on the basis of the modular VÖLKEL platform:

• Control of more than 50 hydraulic functions via networked controllers and I/O extensions
• Integration of CAN peripherals and extensive sensor technology
• Comfort functions such as virtual wall, automatic lowering stop, driver profiles, mappable joystick axles and depth display
• Implementation of limit load control for optimum machine safety
• Development of an HMI with 10″ touch display for ergonomic operation
• Data and event logger as the basis for predictive maintenance

The result / customer benefit:

• Rapid implementation of prototype and small series in just 4 months
• Continuous further development through software enhancements and updates
• Increased operational safety thanks to intelligent control and monitoring systems
• Future-proof thanks to open interfaces and VÖLKEL Data Service

Time to Market:

Development, validation and commissioning of the first prototype in just 4 months – significantly faster than usual on the market.

Conclusion:

With the modular VÖLKEL Machine controls, the mobile harbor crane could be brought to market faster. The solution impresses with its flexibility, security and sustainable expandability – and thus represents a decisive competitive advantage.