Shantui Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. has introduced the "Hydro-Guide" automatic slope control system for its DH17 and DH24 bulldozers. In traditional slope finishing, operators must rely on grade stakes and manual joystick adjustments. This is highly dependent on operator skill and often results in uneven surfaces (wave patterns) due to over-correction.
The Hydro-Guide system uses a "Dual-Laser Receiver" setup mounted on the blade. Two receivers capture the laser reference plane emitted by a rotating laser level on the ground. The system calculates the "Height Deviation" of the left and right sides of the blade relative to the reference plane. If the left side drops by 2 cm, the system's controller instantly sends a signal to the "Proportional Valve" on the lift cylinder, raising the blade automatically.
The engineering breakthrough is the "Tilt-Assist" logic. The system not only controls the blade height but also the blade angle. If the left receiver is higher than the right receiver, the system automatically commands the "Tilt Cylinder" to rotate the blade, ensuring it stays parallel to the slope design. Furthermore, the system features a "Load-Predictive" function. When the dozer enters a cut, the load on the blade increases. The system detects the rising engine torque and slightly raises the blade to prevent track slip, maximizing pushing force. This automation increases grading efficiency by 30% and allows operators to achieve "fine grade" tolerances (±2 cm) in a single pass, significantly reducing the need for expensive motor graders.
