Integration of the many operation control devices of snow and ice control vehicles
Various control devices are installed at the driver’s seat of a snow and ice control vehicle, including travel operation devices and controls for the snow plow (i.e., the snow removal blade), the anti-freezing agent spreader and the signage. These controls are made by various manufacturers, so they can't all be operated in the same way. It takes experience and skill to operate them in a series of actions without delay. To provide an environment that enables inexperienced operators to operate these vehicles as well as skilled, experienced operators do, technological development is being promoted to realize touch operation of the snow-plow, the anti-freezing agent spreader and the signage by creating patterns of multiple operations, integrating device operations and using touch panels in place of conventional operation devices. All these new technologies center around a GPS vehicle location management system.
Snow and ice control vehicles equipped with a newly developed operating platform began to be tested in 2016. Patterns have been developed for basic operations, and a touch panel operating platform has been completed. Integrated operation has been progressing for the anti-freezing agent spreader and the signage, and performance verification is being conducted on the interlocked display of the signage and anti-freezing agent spreading operation. In FY 2017, the further sophistication and optimization of the system is planned, in order to integrate multiple operations of the snow plow and to increase the number of work patterns.