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NEWS
Gaming comes to the timber industry
Virtual reality technology from video games used in timber loading with Hiab's HighVision craneAt first glance, Mattias Johansson’s Scania R 730 looks like any other timber truck but closer inspection reveals that the truck is loaded with new technology.
While the truck seems quite normal, closer inspection reeveals that Johansson’s truck isn’t like the rest. While most drivers would climb out to an external crane cab on the back of the truck to load timber, Johansson slides over to his passenger seat, slips on a virtual reality headset and grabs a joystick.
In gaming, the headset might take him to another world, but in Johansson’s case, it transports him to what amounts to a virtual crane cab, courtesy of a camera system mounted on the crane.
The system gives him a panoramic view of the crane and its surroundings, and from a higher vantage point than a traditional crane cab would provide its operator.
Viewed from the outside, the crane seems to be operating almost by magic as it loads the wood stacked by the side of the road onto the truck.
Thirty minutes later, Johansson removes his headset and the job is finished. As the crane folds back up, he picks up a remote control, and the timber bunks automatically secure themselves and the load. He’s done all this without leaving the air-conditioned cab of his truck.
In a business with tight margins, the use of such digital technology seems like it would be too expensive, but Johansson insists that the crane and timber bunks save time, money, and weight compared to more traditional alternatives.
“This crane is 25,000 to 30,000 Swedish kroner ($A4000 to $A4700) cheaper than a regular one because the crane cabin costs about that,” he explains.
“With this system, we also save 400kg, which means we can load 400kg more on our vehicle.”
Alongside weight and cost savings, Johansson says the ExTe timber bunks save him time when loading and unloading, as he can secure the load with the press of a button.
Johansson says it didn’t take him too long to learn operate the truck.
“It took five to six weeks before I felt I got the hang of it,” he explains. Though he admits with a chuckle, “I’m learning new things every day.”
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Written byTrucksales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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