A radio control system with customized belly transmitter for every type of machine

Proper functioning of machines stands or falls with the control system. The engineers at Hetronic in Weesp know this like no other. Besides standard systems (from small to large numbers) for machine builders, they also design and build customized radio control systems for unique machines and work situations. They go the extra mile: right down to adapting the firmware. All of this to enable the customer - you - to work as safely, efficiently and economically as possible.

On Amsterdam's Herengracht, the Beens Group is providing specialist customization for the renewal of the quay walls. This is done with an MP70 TC (Tool Carrier) foundation machine supplied by Van den Heuvel Werkendam, which is used to drive tube piles into the ground from a floating pontoon in a quiet and vibration-free manner. A Tool Carrier can be equipped with a variety of attachments so that the machine can drill, pile or vibrate. This provides a wide range of adjustment options for the operator. Since he does his work safely and efficiently from a distance, an easy-to-use radio control system is necessary. Hetronic recommended a customized NOVA XXL belly transmitter with RX ES ProfiNET radio receiver for the MP70 TC. This can be quickly and flawlessly integrated into the customer's PLC structure. Due to its unique encrypted code, it can only be programmed with its own transmitter. Because of the busy environment, the extra safe Frequency Hopping technique was chosen, which means the machine will not spontaneously shut down in case of interference from external frequencies.

For any type of heavy equipment

The NOVA-XXL 4.3" is one of Hetronic's showpieces. The radio belly transmitter can be used with any type of heavy equipment, such as crawler cranes, locomotive control, material handling and, as in Amsterdam, a foundation machine. The transmitter offers state-of-the-art machine-to-human interface technology. The 4.3-inch TFT LED color screen is optionally enriched with a touch-layer with touch function, for instant feedback and instructing the machine or setting parameters.

With the largest control panel in the NOVA family, the belly transmitter has room for many proportional functions. That seemed to be a godsend for the MP70 TC, but it later turned out that customization was still needed. "No problem," explains Xander Speelman, account manager at Hetronic. "Because we design and produce the radio control systems in-house with Dutch engineers, we can deliver a custom-made system within 4 to 6 weeks. A team effort we are proud of!"

From eight to ten joysticks

"When we were asked to design a radio control system for a modular MultiPurpose machine, we seized the opportunity with both hands," Speelman said. It turned out to be a complex task, because the Tool Carrier is equipped with three lifting options. To control these optimally, Van den Heuvel put a hard requirement on the table. A total of ten joysticks were needed to optimally perform all the different functionalities. However, the standard configuration of the NOVA-XXL had a maximum of eight joysticks.

Time to call in the ingenuity of the in-house engineering department. After a custom design was made for the requested ten joysticks, the transmitter's firmware was also adapted to this new configuration. Thanks to the fast connection with Hetronic's own engineering department, the custom-made NOVA XXL with ten joysticks could be delivered within a few weeks and the Beens Group could start the Amsterdam job nicely on time.