Note: If desired, consult with your supervisor to modify the way that the windows appear on the screen.
The onboard software is used differently with different applications and the windows are configured differently for specific applications. For example, Grade Plan windows are typically used for grade and slope control and Ore Plan windows are typically used in material handling.
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Send Truck - Sends the truck at the top of the list in the "Waiting Truck" window |
Tools on the toolbars are configured differently for specific applications. For example, an operator of a front shovel selects the "Send Truck" button when the operator has finished loading a truck to send the truck. On the other hand, a track-type tractor will never load a truck. Therefore, the tractor will never use this function.
The onboard software uses three types of files for blade control applications. Each file provides essential information for the software.
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| Illustration 1 | g01191555 |
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(1) Original Ground
(2) Current Ground (3) Elevation Design | |
(1) Original Ground - Original Ground files provide a digital model of the surface at a specific time, usually before construction work has begun.
(2) Current Ground - Current Ground files provide a digital model of the current terrain. The onboard software updates this file as the machine is operating.
(3) Elevation Design - Elevation Design files provide the target surface.
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| Illustration 2 | g03597537 |
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Generation of *.cat files for digital terrain information | |
Digital terrain information is stored in files with a *.cat extension. Files are generated either through manual operations or by using the Terrain onboard software. Illustration 2 provides an overview of both methods.
The Grade Plan window for blade control is the same as the windows for the grade/slope application.
For grade/slope applications, the office typically configures a Grade Plan window. The Grade Plan window shows a color-coded display that indicates the current elevation of the ground relative to the Elevation Design.
The colors listed in Table 1 are used in the Grade Plan window.
| Color Codes for a Grade Plan Window | |
| Color | Definition |
| Green | On-grade:
Areas that are within acceptable tolerance of the target |
| Red | Above grade:
Material to be removed from an area |
| Blue | Below grade:
Areas that are in need of more material |
| Light Gray | Before work begins(1) |
| (1) | There is no new surface information from your machine or any other machines in the system. |
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| Illustration 3 | g03361543 |
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Typical screen for grade/slope applications (1) Floating toolbar (2) On-grade = green (3) Above grade = red (4) Below grade = blue (5) Grade Plan window (6) Profile window (7) Digital windows (8) Gauge window (9) Cross-section window | |
The display updates as the machine moves. As position data is received, the onboard software calculates the position and the relevant files to update.
Note: If desired, consult with your supervisor to modify the way that the windows appear on the screen.
Loss of heading affects the appearance of the following on the Plan window:
- Machine icon
- Machine buffers
- Machine regions
Reference: Refer to Operation and Maintenance Manual, M0102733, "Display Module" for additional information.
When dozing, the operator uses the Profile windows for the following:
- See an upcoming transition on the design
- View the tilt of the blade compared to the design
Note: The Profile window does not show blade pitch.
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| Illustration 4 | g03511239 |
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Inclined plane elevation design | |
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| Illustration 5 | g03511236 |
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Flat plane elevation design | |
| Color Descriptions for Side View of Profile Window | ||
|---|---|---|
| Color | Description | In this example... |
| Red | Elevation of current as-built surface | |
| White | Elevation in the Original Ground file | The machine is taking approximately |
| Solid green | Required elevation with the offset applied (intermediate elevation) | The offset elevation is less than |
| Dotted green | Required elevation without the offset applied. | Target elevation is about |
Note: Changing the horizontal and vertical scale, as shown between the blade pitch in Illustration 5 and the blade in Illustration 6, provides more detailed information about the elevation.
The following are not shown in the Profile window:
- Blade pitch
- The original surface for an inclined plane (dotted green line)
Profile Perpendicular to Machine
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| Illustration 6 | g03511257 |
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Blade, as viewed by operator from the back of the blade | |
| Color Descriptions for Cross-section View of Profile Window | ||
|---|---|---|
| Color | Description | In this example... |
| Red | Elevation of current as-built surface | The line is as wide as the blade. This machine is on the second swath, basically over the same ground as the first. |
| Solid green | Elevation of the "Prime" design with the offset applied | The offset elevation is less than |
| Dotted green | Elevation of the "Prime" design without the offset applied. Final or target elevation. | Target elevation is about |
The following actions can be performed:
- Zoom in to the blade tip to obtain a more detailed view.
- Resize the window, if required.
The following are not shown in the Profile window:
- Offset of an inclined plane (solid green line)
The Digital windows for blade control are the same as the windows for the grade/slope application.
In a grade/slope application, the office configures Digital windows to display the following information:
- Quality of the position accuracy
- Machine identification
- Cut and fill
- Material identification
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| Illustration 7 | g03361548 |
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Typical Digital window | |
The Digital window (15) in Illustration 7 displays the following information:
- T = Local time
- Z = Elevation
- H = Heading
Digital window (16) in Illustration 7 displays the following information:
- C/F = Cut or Fill
- S = Slope (45° =100%)
The background color of the windows indicates the following information:
- Dig status
- Material being loaded
- Position quality
- Required cut or fill
Digital windows with color-coded backgrounds are configurable. A list of information options is available in the window configuration. The background color of the window is controlled by the state of the selected information.
Digital windows have color-coded backgrounds that represent information for the following:
- Quality of position accuracy
- Cut or fill
- Material identification
Colors for Quality of Position Accuracy
Table 4 describes the color codes for a Digital window that uses the quality of the position for the background color. The office can configure an optional annunciator, if equipped, to sound when the accuracy of the position is low.
The same colors appear on the "GNSS Diagnostics" window.
Reference: Refer to Operation and Maintenance Manual, M0102733, "Diagnostics Windows", "GNSS Diagnostics" Window.
| Digital Window Using Quality of Position Accuracy | |
|---|---|
| Color | Description |
| Green | High accuracy positioning |
| Yellow | Medium accuracy positioning: Use site guidelines to decide whether to work or not. |
| Magenta | Low accuracy positioning: Use site guidelines to decide whether to work or not. |
| Red | Autonomous position status:
Position guidance will not be provided. |
| Gray/Charcoal | The position update from the receiver is not changing. The data is "Old GPS" data. |
| Orange | There are no position updates coming from the receiver. |
If any color other than green is present, then the following functions that rely on accurate position stop:
- The software stops mapping.
- The gauge window does not show elevation.
- You cannot mark a hazard or set points.
The Digital window cut or fill information is calculated using a vertical guidance point.
Note: The guidance point varies with machine type.
The vertical guidance point on a dozer is the center of the blade tip on the ground.
Table 5 describes the color codes in Digital windows that use cut or fill information:
| Color Codes for a Digital Window using Cut or Fill | |
|---|---|
| Color | Description |
| Green | The ground at the guidance point is within tolerance of grade. |
| Red | The ground at the guidance point is above grade. The number indicates the amount of material to cut. |
| Blue | The ground at the guidance point is below grade. The number indicates the amount of material to fill. |
Colors for Material Identification
Table 6 describes the color codes that represent the information for materials.
| Color Codes for a Digital Window using Material Identification | |
|---|---|
| Function | Description |
| Load material | The background color is the color of the material that is predominant in the truck. |
| Dipper material | The background color is the color of the material that is predominant in the bucket. |
| Material request | The background color is the color of the material that has been requested. |
When dozing, the operator uses the Gauge window for the following:
- Quickly see how far the blade is above design
- Accurately grade to the design by using the green color band
- See the difference between the left and right blade tip
Color of Gauge Window (All Machines)
Gauge windows allow the machine operator to see information that is related to the grade.
The colors in the Gauge window correspond to the colors in the Grade Plan window as follows:
Red - Above Grade
Blue - Below Grade
Green - Within Tolerance
Yellow - Position accuracy is not "High" or position is off design
Some sites may choose to create two Gauge windows for blade control when using Grade Control or Grade Protection. One window displays the height of left blade tip above design and the second window displays the height of the right blade tip above design. Left is defined as seen by the operator in the cab.
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| Illustration 8 | g03513557 |
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Gauge windows (L) Left blade tip (R) Right blade tip | |
In Illustration 8, the left blade tip, shown by the red indicator (L) in the Gauge window, is 0.4 m above the elevation in the design file. The right blade tip, shown by the green indicator (R) in the Gauge window, is 0.5 m above the elevation in the design file.
The two Gauge windows operate independently. The first gauge may be yellow showing the blade tip is off design while the other gauge may be black/green/red showing cut/fill information. Until the onboard software connects to the ECM, the Gauge windows reflect information from the center of the blade on the ground.
Indicating Blade Position using an Optional Annunciator
The office can configure an optional annunciator, if equipped, to sound different patterns by varying the time the annunciator is off and then on. The different patterns are used to indicate the position of the guidance point relative to the surface of the design.
One annunciator pattern can sound when the guidance point is above grade. A second annunciator pattern can sound when the guidance point is below grade. A third pattern can sound when the blade is within grade tolerance. Grade tolerance defines the on-grade range.
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Silence Grade Alarm - Silences the optional annunciator |
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Menu - Opens the main menu |
Use one of the following methods to silence the optional annunciator:
Silence Grade Alarm - Touch the button.
Menu - Open the main menu and select "System" > "Silence Grade Alarm".
Use the onboard software to show the difference between the elevation on the design and the current elevation of the machine.
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| Illustration 9 | g03379020 |
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Typical display showing the difference between the required elevation and the elevation of the machine (23) ( 24) Profile windows (25) Digital window with cut or fill (26) Gauge window | |
In a Profile window (23), the zero point on the vertical axis represents the elevation of the machine. The zero point is approximately 10 ft above the elevation shown on the Elevation Design (ED).
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| Illustration 10 | g03379024 |
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Profile window (side view) | |
The bottom Profile window (24) shows the same information, but from the side view.
When the machine moves, the Current Elevation (CE) trace line in the Digital window shows the machine elevation. The red color shows that the elevation is a long way above grade. Compare the CE line to the ED line to show the amount of the material to cut to reach the required elevation.
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| Illustration 11 | g03379026 |
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Digital window | |
In the Digital window (25), the red background indicates that the machine is a substantial distance above grade. This distance is also reflected in the "C/F" (cut/fill) value which shows the actual elevation as 13.16 ft.
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| Illustration 12 | g03379028 |
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"Select Data Files" dialog | |
In the Gauge window (26), the zero point represents the elevation shown on the "Elevation Design" file that is set to "Prime" in the "Select Data Files" dialog.
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Menu - Opens the main menu |
To find out which file is set to "Prime", in the main menu, select "Files" > "Select". In this example the "Elevation Design" file is "d11_pit.cat".
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| Illustration 13 | g03379029 |
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Gauge window | |
Colored bars on the Gauge window show the material to cut (red) to reach the required elevation (green). The green band is 0.33 ft deep, indicating that the operator must be within 0.33 ft to be on grade.
The office configures the onboard software to allow the operator to see all types of files, specific files, or no files at all. The *.cat files that are selected as either "Prime" , "Active" , or "On Mach" (on machine) determine the information that is displayed in the Plan and Profile windows.
Different types of *.cat files contain different types of information. Only a single *.cat file of each type can be set as "Prime" . The files that are "Prime" are used during machine operations. The Elevation Design file that is "Prime" is used in the Grade Plan window and in the profile window. The Material Grade file that is "Prime" appears in the Ore Plan window.
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File Select - Opens the "Select Data Files" dialog |
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Menu - Opens the main menu |
To select or change the status of a *.cat file, complete these steps:
- Open the "Select Data Files" dialog using one of the following methods:
File Select - Touch the button.
Menu - Open the main menu and select "Files" > "Select".
Show/hide table
Illustration 14 g03361621 - To set the required status, select the required *.cat file.
- Select "Change Status".
Note: Only a single *. cat file of each type can be set as "Prime".
