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Title: Watch: ROBO wars coming to your field
Darren Bailey recently travelled to the home of McConnel, a small, picturesque town named Ludlow in Shropshire, England, for a demonstration of robotic machinery.
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Darren Bailey recently travelled to the home of McConnel, a small, picturesque town named Ludlow in Shropshire, England, for a demonstration of robotic machinery.
While McConnel is world-renowned for producing some of the best hedgecutters on the market today, something which McConnel is not yet world-famous for is its latest remote-control ROBO range, comprising unmanned vehicles also known as robots.McConnel held the ROBO2016 experience over three days between 15 and 17 March, which gave prospective customers the unique opportunity to operate these machines on steep slopes and in challenging working conditions.
While McConnel is world-renowned for producing some of the best hedgecutters on the market today, something which McConnel is not yet world-famous for is its latest remote-control ROBO range, comprising unmanned vehicles also known as robots.
McConnel held the ROBO2016 experience over three days between 15 and 17 March, which gave prospective customers the unique opportunity to operate these machines on steep slopes and in challenging working conditions.
At the event, live demonstrations showed just how easy they are to operate.
The event also marked the full working debut of the ROBOMAX, McConnel’s new 80hp all-terrain work platform, which is capable of operating on slopes up to 55 degrees and delivers twice the power of the company’s popular ROBOCUT machine.
Other machines on display over the three days included:
ROBOCUT: McConnel’s popular remote control tool carrier, which is available with a range of 17 different work attachments, from a stump grinder to a fixed-tooth forestry flailhead.
ROBOPOWER: part of McConnel’s new wave of unmanned tractors, this 140hp machine has front and rear three-point linkage and PTO for universal compatibility.
ROBOLOAD: this is powered by a 40hp Isuzu diesel engine, coupled with a powerful loader bucket capable of lifting more than 300kg. This makes the ROBOLOAD an extremely versatile machine as it is also compatible with the full range of ROBOCUT attachments and accessories.
ROBOMOZ: a high-performance all-terrain slope mower with a Yanmar 33hp engine and six different attachments.
ROBOZERO: the world’s first commercial remote control zero-turn mower.
The Irish Farmers Journal spoke to Irish contractor Rob Hall at the event. He said “ROBO2016 has given us a chance to see just how effective these machines are. We were really impressed by the power and the productivity of ROBOMAX, in particular, and how easy it is to master.”
Speaking after the event, McConnel general manager Christian Davies said: “For the first time, customers have not only been able to see our full range of remote-control machines in action, they have also had the opportunity to try them out. This event has enabled us to showcase the entire range and show both customers and dealers the huge benefits in safety and productivity our products can deliver.”
The McConnel ROBO range consists of six models.
Picture one
The ROBOZERO
This is the world’s first commercial remote-control zero-turn mower up to a working range of 150m. Powered by a 33hp three-cylinder Yanmar diesel engine and with a hydraulic output of 52 litres per minute, this mower is suited to professionals looking for performance and efficiency. The ROBOZERO can operate on slopes up to 35 degrees and has a top speed of 10km/hour.
The ROBOZERO can be fitted with either a 1.3m flail head or 1.5m rotary mower and is available only in a wheeled version. Retail prices start at €40,000 plus VAT.
Picture two
The ROBOMOZ
This is the entry-level tracked ROBO machine aimed at the contractor, who is using the ROBOMOZ primarily for mowing and green maintenance. It is powered by a 33hp Yanmar three-cylinder diesel engine and fitted with one hydraulic output producing 55 litres per minute, the ROBOMOZ is available with over six different attachments, making it a versatile piece of kit.
Available with three track options which allow the ROBOMOZ to operate on slopes up to 50 degrees quite easily, the remote control is simple and easy to use with a working range of up to 150m and a top speed of 10km/hr. Retail prices start at €45,000 plus VAT.
Picture three
The ROBOCUT
One of the most popular machines in the ROBO range is the ROBOCUT, this machine is powered by a 40hp Isuzu three-cylinder engine, which in turn powers the three track options via a hydrostatic drive up to a top speed of 7km/hr. The ROBOCUT is fitted with two hydraulic services producing 55 litres per minute. This allows for the fitting of up to 17 different attachments. The low centre of gravity allows the ROBOCUT to operate on slopes up to 55 degrees with ease, while the easy-to-operate controls have a working distance of up to 150m – keeping the operator at a safe distance at all times. Retail prices start at €63,000 plus VAT.
Picture four
The ROBOLOAD
To further increase the versatility of the ROBOCUT, there is the option of fitting a front loader, transforming it into what is known as the ROBOLOAD.
The front loader is equipped with quick-attach brackets, allowing the safe and easy removal of the loader. The front loader itself has self-levelling parallelogram geometry with a maximum lift capacity of 300kg powered by four hydraulic rams. The integrated rear ballast weights and Hi-tip bucket allows for a maximum lift height of one metre to be achieved. Retail prices start at €66,000 plus VAT.
Picture five
The ROBOMAX
McConnel says that this machine is aimed at the professional user who likes everything the ROBOCUT offers but needs more power and performance for more demanding working conditions. The ROBOMAX is powered by an 80hp Yanmar four-cylinder diesel engine coupled to a hydrostatic transmission, which enables it travel at speeds up to 7km/hr up to a maximum distance of 150m.
The ROBOMAX is fitted with a new heavy-duty reinforced chassis to allow it to work in demanding conditions such as the mountains of Switzerland and jungles of Papua New Guinea, where it has already proven successful. As with its smaller brother, the ROBOMAX has dual hydraulic outlets producing 55 litres per minute, which enable over 17 different attachments to be operated. Retail prices start at €80,000.
Picture six
The ROBOPOWER
This machine is undoubtedly the daddy of the ROBO range. Powered by a 140hp Deutz four-cylinder diesel engine and weighing in at 4,620kg, this is truly a heavy-duty machine.
The ROBOPOWER is controlled wirelessly via the battery-powered remote control to a maximum distance of 150m. Movement is taken care of via a two-speed hydrostatic transmission, which enables the ROBOPOWER to reach a top speed of 10km/hr. With a low centre of gravity and three track options, the ROBOPOWER can operate on steep slopes up to 45 degrees.
The unique feature on the ROBOPOWER is the category II front and rear three-point linkage which is the same system found on any tractor, allowing any tractor-mounted implement be fitted to the ROBOPOWER further extending its versatility.
Hydraulic power at the front comes in the form of two double-acting services and one high-flow, low-pressure return service, while hydraulic power at the rear is taken care of by two double-acting services.
Lift capacity is 4,600kg on both front and rear linkages with the option of a hydraulic bi-directional front PTO and mechanical rear PTO, both with two-speed 540rpm and 1000rpm options. Retail prices start at €116,000 plus VAT.
Released in 2011, the ROBO range was designed for the professional user who expects high performance and reliability from a heavy-duty machine to get through work quickly and efficiently.
The idea for the ROBO range came from the tightening of health and safety regulations, which prevent operators from working in dangerous areas.
The ROBO machines can be sent in to do the work while the operator controls it remotely from a safe distance. This is particularly applicable around power stations, river banks, airports, reservoirs, motorways and any other areas where it’s too dangerous to send in an operator. The ROBO range was designed from the ground up with a low centre of gravity, which allows it to work on slopes up to 55 degrees without any problems. The engine has a unique oil sump, which ensures adequate lubrication on slopes.
There are three track options to ensure that the ROBO machine can tackle most conditions: standard, hard-wearing rubber tracks suitable for working up to 40 degrees, super rubber tracks suitable for working up to 55 degrees and a studded track, which can be also fitted with steel spikes for extra grip. The range is extremely versatile with 17 different attachments, including mulchers, flail heads, turf mowers, cutterbars, rakes, stump grinders, wood chippers, trenchers, pushing blades, snow blowers, brushes, sprayers, forks and a loader with a bucket.
New attachments
The company is developing new attachments for the range and expects to have over 20 available by the end of the year. Changing attachments with the standard coupling system takes five to 10 minutes – an optional quick-attach system will save time.
The ROBO range is extremely efficient at getting through work due to its unique design and power output; jobs which the ROBO range is now doing were previously done manually.
A UK-based contractor said: “I took delivery of the first two ROBO machines produced in 2011. I was so impressed with them that, today, I have over 35 of them hired throughout the UK. We did a comparison on fuel usage and one ROBO machine used the same amount of fuel as three strimmers in the same space of time but covered a huge amount more work. One example of the efficiency of the ROBO machines was a job that previously took six months to complete manually was completed in just six weeks with the ROBO machine.”
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