Engineers at Topcon have designed Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) technology that they say operates faster than global positioning grade control.

The technology uses accelerometers and gyros to measure changes in direction at three axis points (roll, pitch, and yaw). Image source: TopconUsing accelerometers and gyros to measure changes in direction at three axis points (roll, pitch, and yaw), the IMU tech is said by the company to operate up to 10 times faster than Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) grade control devices. According to Topcon, the faster reaction time means faster grading speeds and more accurate grading levels since the dozer’s blade knows where it has to be at all times.

The company says that a primary advantage to the IMU system is its ability to minimize the amount of heavy equipment used on any given site. The John Deere 700K SmartGrade dozer uses Auto Smart Grade to raise its blade to prevent track slips when the operator loads the blade surface. What’s more, the dozer’s system IMU monitor is calibrated and tuned prior to breaking ground.

The company says that traditional GPS grade control processes at 10 to 20 hz, 10 to 20 times per second. By contrast, its IMU tech is able to operate at speeds up to 100 Hz.

The system is not without its challenges. With only one IMU mounted to a blade, it may be hard for the system to differentiate if a blade is turning or rotating. To alleviate this problem, Topcon suggests operators mount one IMU on top of the blade and another on top of the body. This dual use of IMU tech may assist correct blade positioning.