CAB 4.0 à la carte, Augmented Reality & HMI Cluster Fritzmeier Cabs looks to the future at bauma 2019

What do construction and agricultural machinery manufacturers need? Among other things, modern, driver-friendly safety cabs at reasonable development costs. At bauma 2019 Fritzmeier Cabs is presenting just the right solution with its modular Global CAB. And there’s more – augmented reality applications, a system in the headrest that reduces noise for the driver, and a standardized user interface designed in collaboration with the HMI Cluster. “We’re addressing issues that the industry is facing right now,” explains Fritz Schadeck, Vice President Sales & Marketing Fritzmeier Cabs. “As always we’re working together with the big associations as well as with young companies that have promising technologies.” Global CAB: Right for every vehicle.

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Fritzmeier has many years of experience with lightweight aluminium construction. A variable, basic, and customer-neutral cab – this is the new Global CAB by Fritzmeier Cabs. Due to the modular structure an adaptation to existing machinery is possible with low investment. The safety cab covers ROPS requirements up to 20 tonnes. For higher weights up to 50 tonnes an interior steel ROPS can be added. “This is possible because the ROPS cab is made of welded special aluminium section with a modular structure,” explains Uwe Rastel, Vice President Engineering at Fritzmeier CABS. “This makes it uniquely flexible.” The reduction in mass also means that the covered area is significantly lower than with steel, giving better fields of view. Augmented reality: From development tool to BIM in the cab.

In cooperation with Austrian AR specialist Holo-Light, Fritzmeier Cabs is showing the specific customer benefits that are possible today with augmented reality. AR can be used to simplify development processes far upstream of series production, by visualizing different variants, colour combinations or technical options, realistically and economically. “We demonstrate it using the example of a real cabin,” says Alexandra Herrmann, who is responsible for Fritzmeier Cabs marketing and communication. In addition, the company has collaborated on BIM applications with the Technical University of Munich, machine control specialist VEMCON and automation company MTS Maschinentechnik Schrode. “At bauma we’re showing how AR can be used as a training and demonstration tool for machine operators on construction sites.” This development has been nominated for the bauma Innovation Award finale.

Active noise cancelling without headphones: Noise reduction through counter-noise in the headrest.

Construction machine operators are exposed daily to critical noise levels, and the risk of hearing loss is acute. Prolonged exposure to noise also impairs performance and concentration, which can lead to errors and safety risks. Noise-reducing headphones, earplugs, and even active noise control (ANC) headphones are not the solution, since among other things they interfere with radio communication. At bauma, recalm is presenting an alternative in a Fritzmeier cab that reduces the noise level through counter-noise. “A microphone picks up the low-frequency engine noise,” explains Lukas Henkel (COO recalm). “The software generates phase-shifted sound waves in real time and outputs them through loudspeakers. These cancel out unwanted noise to minimize the noise level by 10 to 20 dB in the frequency range to 1 kHz.” Sensors detect the position of the driver’s head so that the quiet zone is projected precisely to the user. The system can either be integrated directly into the headrest or added as a clip-on version.

Many machines, one HMI: A shared effort for a standardized interface.

The complexity of machine control is increasing, as is the number of HMI variants. Drivers often operate different machines, which makes orientation that much more difficult. For this reason the HMI Cluster and VDMA got together to create a uniform standard. “We set up the cluster together with Fritzmeier because we felt that a cross-manufacturer standard would be very important going forward,” explains Ralf Lüddemann, commercial manager of the technology department of the LEONHARD WEISS construction company. “It starts with the use of the same symbols per operating group, continues with the positioning of the operating groups and extends to the redundant control of safety functions.” At bauma 2019 the current cluster members hope to get additional OEMs, accessory manufacturers, associations, universities, system integrators and display manufacturers on board.