AccuGrade™ Laser

A rotating laser creates a grade elevation reference plane over the work area to maintain precise elevation control.

Caterpillar is helping customers revolutionize the way they move dirt with new technology solutions for earthmoving machines. Solutions that provide greater accuracy, higher productivity, lower operating costs, and more profitability. The AccuGrade Laser Grade Control System is designed for a wide range of construction earthwork applications requiring tight tolerances and high production rates. Laser grade control is so accurate in fact, that in many cases these systems are required in project specifications or by general contractors in the construction industry.

Field-proven and versatile, the dual laser system is ideal for fine grading of sites with flat, single or dual slope surfaces, such as industrial, commercial and residential building sites.

AccuGrade™ CROSS SLOPE

Combines automated controls with manual adjustments to achieve desired cross slope.

AccuGrade Cross Slope is a grade control system designed to control surface cross slope. Machinemounted sensors are used to calculate necessary blade slope positioning to achieve desired cross slope of the surface. The system makes automatic adjustments to the left or right lift cylinder, typically performed by the operator. The in-cab display delivers all of the AccuGrade Cross Slope information the operator needs to quickly and easily spread or cut material at the correct cross slope. The operator can select which side of the blade to control automatically and swap direction on the return pass without readjusting the settings. Elevation is controlled manually by matching grade, or automatically by adding an elevation control device.

Machine-Mounted Sensors
AccuGrade Cross Slope uses three machine-mounted sensors – a blade slope sensor, mainfall sensor, and rotation sensor – to calculate necessary blade adjustments to achieve desired cross slope of the surface perpendicular to the direction of travel.

AccuGrade™ SONIC

Ultrasonic sound waves calculate elevation from a physical reference point, such as a string line, curb or gutter, to maintain elevation.

AccuGrade Sonic is a grade control system designed to control surface elevation. The sonic system uses an ultrasonic sensor to maintain the blade at the same relative vertical distance to an external reference, such as a string line or curb and gutter. The system makes automatic elevation adjustments typically performed by the operator. The operator simply steers the machine to maintain the sensor over the external reference.

Single Sonic System - When combined with AccuGrade Cross Slope, the single system provides automatic blade adjustments to one side of the blade for automatic control of elevation and cross slope.

Dual Sonic System - When two sonic sensors are used, the system provides automatic elevation control to either side of the blade. The system typically uses only one sensor at a time. This allows the operator to control which side of the blade to control and change direction without relocating sensors.

ACCUGRADE™ ATS

AccuGrade™ ATS is a high accuracy dynamic tracking system that uses an Advanced Tracking Sensor (ATS) to track a machine and monitor blade positioning. An ATS instrument on the work site is used to track a target, which is mounted on the blade of the machine, to determine precise 3D positioning.

The ATS instrument continuously measures the target's position and transmits real-time positioning data to the operator via the in-cab display, which shows the exact position of the blade in relation to the design. The system combines the position of the target with the known position of the instrument, machine measurements and sensor outputs to calculate precise positioning of the blade tips. The system uses the positioning data to calculate desired elevation and cross slope. Cut and fill values are computed by comparing the position of the blade with the design file. The system makes automatic blade adjustments typically performed by the operator and provides automatic blade control to one or both cutting edge tips.

AccuGrade™ ATS puts the information the operator needs to complete the job in the cab. The operator simply steers the machine to achieve fine grade surfaces with high-precision accuracy.