What is the Future of Excavators?

What are the Pros and Cons of Excavators?

One of the most common ways of dealing with construction is through the usage of manual labour. That is why, in the following advantages and disadvantages, we will be comparing and contrasting excavators to manual labour.

Advantages

Fewer people needed

Excavators reduce the number of people needed to get a job done (they only require a single operator to run the machine and an engineer to inspect whether or not the excavator needs to be repaired in comparison to multiple people needed for manual labour).

Comfortable conditions for workers

Excavators make the work less gruesome as construction workers doing manual labour would have to work extremely hard in uncomfortable conditions (such as in high heat or the grueling cold), whereas the excavator operator is sitting on a comfy seat in a climate-controlled cabin.

Reduction in workplace injuries

The chance of injuries is reduced because the excavator relies on its hydraulic system (e.g. hydraulic actuators and motors) for motion whereas manual labour relies on the muscles of the workers. In the case that there is a very heavy load that is being moved, or the job is very back-breaking and/or repetitive, the workers risk getting injured. However, in the case of an excavator, it allows the operator to handle these strenuous tasks involving large loads without much physical effort, reducing their chance of injury.

More profitable business strategy

Excavators are a better investment in the long run considering the possible compensation that is paid to the workers performing manual labour in the case that they get injured. Excavators also increase the amount of work done at the job site, which helps get jobs done faster and increases revenue. Furthermore, this can help society build more buildings and further develop underdeveloped areas around the world, which helps progress society.

Disadvantages

Complex machinery is expensive to maintain

Excavators are very complex (for example, they contain lots of tubing to channel the flow of hydraulic liquid and have intricate diagrams that show where all the oil in the excavator’s system goes). As a result of the sophistication of excavators, repairing excavators while in the field is extremely arduous, often requiring specialized tools and well-trained technicians to get the repair done properly. This is much different than manual labour, which is very inexpensive to use (you just have to supply the construction workers with adequate tools).

Fluid leaks can contaminate local environment

Excavators are prone to leak fluids that can contaminate the local environment. In the case that the excavator is damaged, is in need of repair from heavy usage, or if it has a component that wasn't reassembled properly, then the liquid that is used in the excavator’s hydraulic system (such as in the hydraulic linear actuators) can leak out and into places that it shouldn’t go. One place would be the local water supply, and getting the fluid out will be a hassle that numerous companies will end up looking past. It might also end up in the local soil, contaminating not only the soil itself but also the plants that grow in it. Manual labour, on the other hand, doesn't have this type of issue with environmental concerns.

Expensive to operate

Excavators are expensive machinery that companies need to put up a medium-to-large amount of upfront capital for in order to purchase the excavator. They also have to make sure that their excavator operator is qualified to run the excavator. Lastly, they have to spend money on routine safety and repair checks to ensure that the excavator is running as intended. In the case that any repairs have to be done, then the company must pay for these as well (which can be pricey due to the new technologies and hydraulic systems currently used). Overall, owning and operating an excavator is a large expense. This is also a very high upfront cost in comparison to other forms of labour, such as manual labour.

Very noisy and heavy

Excavators can be a large nuisance to the nearby environment. For example, they can be very loud (especially if they are not running correctly), which can lead to noise pollution in the vicinity. Furthermore, excavators tend to be very heavy, which means that as they crawl along the ground, they can easily destroy roads and paths as they move from one place to another. This is a stark comparison to manual labour, which itself isn't noisy (unless other tools are used) and doesn't destroy roads (as it is just people working).

Used in destructive ways

If one were to look at the use cases of excavators, there may be some times when the excavators aren’t being used for a good purpose. An example of this would be clear-cutting forests in order to gain access to trees for logging. The issue with this practice of clear-cutting is that it displaces the animals living in that area because they have just lost their habitat as well as the trees that they depended on for food. It is important to note that excavators aren’t the source of this issue (the people who conduct these jobs are the ones to blame) but it is important to recognize that the production of excavators has definitely accelerated the destruction of natural habitats. Manual labour, if used in the same way, will lead to the same destructive outcomes, but will just take a longer time to occur (as manual labour is slower than excavators).

CAT's Enviromental Policy

CAT is committed to building a sustainable and environmentally friendly business. As such, CAT has implemented new policies to ensure our clients are using our products in a responsible way with regard to the environment. If you would like to learn more, please visit: https://www.caterpillar.com/en/company/sustainability.html

Tasks on the Horizon

Remotely controlled excavators

Companies that manufacture construction machinery, such as Caterpillar, are beginning to offer upgrades to their equipment that allow it to be controlled remotely. Through the addition of various electric linear actuators, the operator for these construction machines (such as excavators) does not have to be inside of it in order to control the machine and can instead manipulate it from an isolated location (such as in a building) using a computer and joysticks.

Autonomous/self-driving excavators

Companies, such as Caterpillar, are researching and developing autonomous construction machinery (such as excavators) so that they can replace the jobs that their human-controlled excavator counterparts did. This allows construction companies to reap the benefits of autonomy, such as being able to hire less qualified people (as the operators they hire just have to make sure that the autonomous vehicle they are supervising doesn’t break down). This helps increase the profits generated as well as the range of people that can be hired (because proper qualification isn't as important). The only qualified people needed are engineers to inspect the machines ever so often to make sure that no repairs need to be done.

Conversion to electric actuators instead of hydraulic

Construction companies are converting their construction machines (such as excavators) into using electrical power (e.g. to move and function) as they push to become greener. This means that their hydraulic linear actuators will be replaced with electric actuators. This is advantageous because electric actuators tend to be more reliable than their hydraulic counterparts and they can work in harsher conditions (because they don’t have oil inside them that can freeze or become thinner with higher temperatures). Furthermore, a minimal amount of maintenance is needed because there isn’t a hydraulic system that needs to be constantly monitored and repaired. This also means that there isn’t an environmental threat like there is with the current excavators (because leaking oil can contaminate the local water supply and/or oil). Lastly, the usage of electric actuators allows the excavators to be much more precise when it comes to movement.

Remote monitoring and predictive maintenance

Through the usage of onboard computers, the excavator’s system can be actively monitored by the operator. This helps ensure that repairs can be easily noticed and further damages can be mitigated, such as if there is a leak in the hydraulic system that powers the excavator’s actuators. This also allows the operator to check the fuel level and change the mode of operation from performance-oriented to fuel-saving. Furthermore, thanks to advances in technology, excavators will be able to predict when various maintenance jobs need to be done (such as oil changes).

Wheeled excavators

Today’s excavators currently use tracks to move across the ground, as it allows the machine to properly grip the surface it is on and have proper traction. This is extremely important because excavators, as well as other machines used in construction, are being used off-road, such as on mud or dirt. However, while they are on the road (e.g. when they are moving from one location to another one that is nearby), the metal tracks can damage the road. The introduction of wheeled excavators allows these vehicles to cushion their movements with rubber, which means that they can move across the road and even be used in roadwork and urban environments without destroying the asphalt or concrete they are on. Furthermore, because current excavators use tracks, they aren’t able to move very fast, but with the introduction of wheels, they can move from location to location very quickly.

It is important to note that wheels make the excavators less stable, outriggers (which are like extendable stands) will be added to the excavator so they can extend during usage and stop it from tipping over.

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