Radio Remote Technology Applied to Truck Crane

A recent report in Cranes Today talked about the market for truck crane radio remote controls. It stated that the market is very competitive and “driven by innovation.” These innovations include improved controls, less radio interference and greater safety.
Here is a summary of some of the improvements you can look for in a radio remote control system for your truck crane.

Proportional controls of truck crane

True proportional control gives you the fine touch you need for safer and more efficient load handling. To understand the value of proportional controls, compare them to standard on/off controls:

In an on/off system, it’s all or nothing. You can either move the load or not. There is no real way to slow the speed of the crane. To make partial turns you need to make multiple, often jerky movements. With a proportional system, the truck crane reacts in direct proportion to the movement of the switch on the transmitter, giving operators greater control and increased accuracy of movement.

Less Interference with radio controls

Radio remote controls consist of a portable transmitter, carried by the crane operator, and a receiver installed on the truck crane. The systems use radio frequencies to enable communication between the transmitter and receiver.

One of the main concerns with radio controls is interference. If the signals are disrupted, the truck crane cannot operate. Most remote manufacturers take advantage of systems that minimize interference. One such system is spread spectrum technology.

Spread spectrum was developed by the U.S. military to prevent radio signals from being monitored or interfered with. There are two types of spread spectrum technology – frequency hopping (FHSS) and direct sequence (DSSS).

With FHSS, the signal hops between frequencies faster than an interfering signal can reach it. With DHSS, the data signal is combined with a chipping code that divides the data according to a spreading ratio. According to Webopedia, the “chipping code is a redundant bit pattern for each bit that is transmitted, which increases the signal’s resistance to interference. If one or more bits in the pattern are damaged during transmission, the original data can be recovered due to the redundancy of the transmission.”

Both spread spectrum technologies offer improvements in truck crane handling by virtually eliminating the chance for radio interference.

Improved safety

With proportional controls and more reliable radio operation, the safety of cranes has been greatly improved. The best remotes have long ranges – even up to 400 feet – which allow the operator to stand far from the load while still maintaining precise control over it. Operators have a greater range of movement, which allows them to position themselves in the ideal position for watching and controlling the load they are moving.

Not only do these innovations result in improved safety, they also result in greater efficiency. Because the operator can move around freely and safely, only one person is needed for crane operation. And with greater control, that operator can load and unload more quickly.

If you are looking for a truck crane, be sure to give the remote control package a careful evaluation to ensure you are getting the best possible performance.