Sany Heavy Industry has released a new "AI-Sway" control system for its SAC4500T all-terrain truck crane. In complex hoisting operations, such as installing steel beams on high-rise buildings, the primary challenge is controlling the pendulum swing of the load caused by inertia and wind. Traditional cranes rely on the operator's skill to "chase the load" with the joystick, a method that is imprecise and exhausting.
The AI-Sway system uses a 3D gyroscope mounted on the boom tip to detect the swing frequency and amplitude of the hook block. The controller runs a "State Observer" algorithm that calculates the exact speed and phase of the pendulum. When the operator stops the slewing or luffing movement, the system automatically commands a micro-movement of the boom (luffing up/down) or the telescopic cylinder in the opposite phase of the swing.
The engineering breakthrough is the "Predictive Sway Damping." Instead of reacting to the swing, the system predicts the swing trajectory based on the operator's joystick input. For example, if the operator slews left, the system automatically luffs the boom down slightly to counteract the centrifugal force that would otherwise push the load outward. This "feedforward" control reduces the swing amplitude by 90% compared to manual operation. Furthermore, the system features a "Wind-Gust Stabilizer." If the anemometer on the boom detects a sudden gust exceeding 8 m/s, the system locks the hydraulic motors and activates the anti-rollback valves, preventing the load from being blown off course. This technology significantly improves safety and efficiency in windy urban construction environments.
