Liebherr dozers recruited by Austrian Armed Forces (VIDEO)

A pair of Liebherr crawler dozers are providing active support for munitions clearance and disaster recovery for the Austrian Armed Forces.

Under contract from the Austrian Ministry of Defence, Liebherr supplied two Generation 8 PR 726 Crawler Dozers. The dozers were equipped with the new Liebherr Remote Control System (LiReCon). The delivery was backed up with extensive training and instruction on the new LiReCon system.

The teleoperable Liebherr machines allow the Austrian Armed Forces to execute driverless operations for disaster recovery and for clearing unexploded munitions at a military training ground.

Equipped with cameras with real-time video transmission, LiReCon displays the work area with different views from varying angles. Microphones track the machine noises, and radio receivers and transmitters ensure a seamless connection to the remote driver.

The main monitor uses a high-resolution video signal to provide a comprehensive view of the entire operational environment of the Crawler Dozer. The active person detection system, fitted as an option, identifies persons or obstacles in the work area to avoid accidents and prevent damage.

“LiReCon offers an advanced solution for all crawler dozer operations. It ensures complete integration of the machine and visualisation of all relevant machine data,” said Hansjörg Nocker, Sales Manager at the Liebherr Telfs plant.

“This includes the Liebherr teleoperation stand, which is a state-of-the-art operator station equipped with all the necessary controls and system information.”

Austrian Armed Forces collaboration

Based on their experience with the Liebherr PR 726 Crawler Dozers supplied in 2018, the Austrian Armed Forces collaborated with Liebherr product development to come up with a new operational design tailored to their needs.

“The military training ground in Allentsteig is a zone with multiple unexploded munitions, and these have to be removed after military exercises. Up to now, clearing equipment with splinter protection and bulletproof glass has been used. Nevertheless, there was always a risk that the driver could be injured,” said Lt. Col. Dirk Wurth from the Office for Armaments and Defence Technology, Engineer Technology Department.

For this reason, the machine design was developed for teleoperation along with a container fully equipped for remote radio control of the machine.

“Using this new design, we can effectively deploy equipment both for dangerous operations on the military training ground and difficult environments in disaster recovery. This also includes driverless support operations over the most difficult terrain, such as landslides or for road clearance with the army corps of engineers,” Wurth said.

LiReCon design

LiReCon supports a range of remote control configurations. The on-site solution enables remote control of machines without visual contact, while relay stations are available as an option for extended operational range. The system can also be operated via an internet connection. Full integration into the machine control system, ensures all current and future assistance functions can be used. LiReCon is therefore a foundation element for future device automation.

“LiReCon is notable for its modular design. With the latest upgrade, the control station is even more compact and transportable, enabling seamless integration into a range of plant infrastructures,” said Hansjörg Nocker from the Liebherr Telfs plant.

LiReCon is a universal cross-sector product. The intuitive user interface allows it to be readily integrated into different Liebherr machines, making it easy to switch between a wide variety of operating units.

In terms of safety, the system has an integrated emergency stop control to stop the machine dead in dangerous situations, as well as special safety functions for LiReCon machines.

Data security for LiReCon is ensured by encrypted data transmission and monitored data packets. It also offers operator certification with various authorisation levels.