JCB unveils new machine and technology

The new 145XR excavator is the latest in the OEMs X Series. Image: JCB

The new excavator model is the latest in the OEMs X Series range of excavators and is said to have a 27% shorter tail swing than a conventional model but retains a full-sized cab.

At the launch Richard Brooks, Global Product Innovation Director, JCB, emphasised the importance of the full sized cab to operator comfort and said that the new excavator delivered, “minimum swing but maximum space.”

Brooks also highlighted that the new model would be ideal for working in congested and urban environments and the sides of roads and highways, where space is limited.

The cab is said to be further improved with a new ten inch touchscreen monitor, with the JCB UX interface. The switch panel incorporates customisable hot keys, allowing personalisation for the operator. Climate control, keyless start, and twin cameras for added visibility are all standard.

The JCB UX interface has up to 25 user profiles, which can be customised for the operator to set preferred joystick configuration to meet their individual requirements

The machine weighs between 15-18 tonnes, depending on specification, and can be supplied with a monoboom or a two-piece triple articulating (TAB) configuration.

At the event the OEM also unveiled a new system using artificial intelligence designed to reduce the risk of harm and injury to workers. Called JCB Intellisense, it is integrated onto the OEMs Loadall telescopic handlers to reduce the risk to workers of being struck by moving materials handling machines on construction sites.

The system utilises four cameras, three of which are AI cameras (two side mounted and one rear-facing) as well as a forward-facing standard camera to improve visibility to the operator in line with the object detection and visibility aids. The system is designed to detect pedestrians within a pre-set proximity of the machine.

When the system senses a pedestrian in that area, there are audible and visual warnings inside the cabin for the operator and externally to warn the pedestrian and other site workers. The system also provides an operator alert button as standard, where the operator has the capability to record a ten second data segment that is automatically sent to, and stored in, the cloud.

Charlie Catallo, product manager at JCB, told Construction Briefing that the so-called human form recognition system is being used on the HS2 project in the UK by Balfour Beatty and that he expects that the tenders for other projects will soon specify that this technology is used. 

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