Project studies bulldozer movement
Staff -- Test & Measurement World, 8/1/2004
The Metrology Division of Leica Geosystems (Norcross, GA) reports that it has completed a data-collection project with Caterpillar (Peoria, IL). During a four-day span, the Leica system captured a D9 bulldozer's track-in-motion data and other 3-D coordinates derived from the bulldozer's surface and movement. Data was gathered on 123 channels simultaneously from instruments fixed to the ground, moving with the tractor chassis, or rotating with the track.
As part of the project, two Leica LTD800 laser trackers measured forces exerted on the bulldozer track shoe and measured displacement (position and angle) of the track shoe to the ground. The two instruments also monitored two reflectors attached to the track shoe. The first laser tracker captured x-y-z coordinates, while the second tracker captured the pitch and roll of the track shoe. Twelve data channels gathered track shoe dynamic forces; the other 111 channels tracked the speed of the bulldozer body and measured parameters such as torque and force.
The system-control software used Visual Basic scripts to transfer the data to a spreadsheet. Caterpillar engineers will use the data to create 3-D dynamic models to perform analysis, predict traction performance, and evaluate product designs. www.leica-geosystems.com.
