Wireless Command
Radio Remote Controls and Fluid Power By Hector Sanchez and Reed Miller, Regional Sales Managers for Mobile Hydraulics, HBC-radiomatic
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afety and productivity are top priorities for any machine builder, especially where human interaction with the machine is common. Time and again, industrial radio remote controls have proven central to the rapid improvement of productive, efficient, and safe machine control solutions. Offering the inherent advantages of untethered operation, coupled with rapid advancements to radio communications and intelligent functionality, it is no wonder that the inclusion and integration of radio controls into hydraulic and pneumatic machinery continue to grow year after year. Hydraulic and pneumatic equipment is found in a variety of environments and industries, each with its own set of challenges for keeping operators and machines safe. Radio remote controls allow operators to position themselves with an optimal view of the machine, the work being 8
JANUARY 2022
done, and the broader operating environment. They remove the potential of the operator working in hazardous or dangerous environments and locations. In addition, they enable the direct communication between the equipment operator and jobsite operation personnel, while reducing miscommunication and the potential for the misinterpretation of hand signals. They also remove assumptions of the machine operation in relation to the environment. By means of a radio remote control, the operator can evaluate work tasks, check conditions, and constantly monitor the work environment for operational changes, obstacles, or sudden weather events. State-of-the-art products provide complete machine feedback to the radio remote control for the operator. Feedback options include high resolution displays, LEDs, haptic, and audible alerts. Safety initiatives WWW.FLUIDPOWERJOURNAL.COM • WWW.IFPS.ORG
