HydraForce Collaborating with Elevat to Aid Telematics Integration

However, he said one of the barriers to entry has been the cost of the gateways used to implement IoT and telematics solutions. The high cost of these devices means many OEMs cannot afford to implement these solutions on all their machines and so have typically chosen to do so only on the more expensive options they are putting into the market.

HydraForce is able to help overcome this hurdle though with the gateway it can provide. Because it is now part of Bosch, HydraForce is able to leverage that relationship to provide a robust, high-quality gateway which has been used in the automotive market for years — which helps to bring down its costs compared to other options in the market.

“That device is going to lower the barrier to entry so that smaller to mid-size OEMs can put it on all their machines and they’ll have all of their machines connected,” said Schneidewind.

The gateway is available in different versions and IP ratings, all of which are capable of withstanding use in the harsh environments in which off-highway equipment is typically used. He said the only changes that needed to be made to the gateway are software related to ensure it is compatible with Elevat’s subscription service software.

Another benefit he noted about the collaboration is the fact that Elevat is agnostic about who accesses the controllers on a machine. An OEM may have controllers and other components from multiple suppliers, but with the Elevat and HydraForce solution they only need one gateway and can have Elevat as the sole IoT provider.

Schneidewind said it would be expensive and frustrating for an OEM, especially a smaller one, if it had to use multiple gateways and IoT subscription services capable of working with the different controllers used on its machines.

The Elevat and HydraForce collaboration solves this problem though he said. “We have one IoT hub and we have one gateway, making it more feasible for small- to mid-size OEMs to be able to access their machines remotely.”

Machine Data can Improve Fluid Power Designs and Servicing

Schneidewind said another benefit to the collaboration with Elevat is the valuable data HydraForce can collect from machines onto which the companies’ solutions are integrated.

He said that with this data, HydraForce — and Bosch Rexroth as a whole — can get a better understanding of how its hydraulic components are being used in a machine on a regular basis. This can help determine potential improvements to make such as those related to efficiency and other performance aspects.

Eventually, he said the company would like to get to a point where AI (artificial intelligence) tools like Elevat’s recently introduced AI Technician Assistant can be used by service technicians to more easily address maintenance issues with the hydraulics on a machine.

Elevat AI Technician Assistant utilizes machine telemetry, fault codes, OEM service manuals and field repair history to provide step-by-step guidance on how to repair or service a machine. This helps to make the process faster and easier, an increasingly important aspect as a growing number of people retire from the industry and fewer are entering to take their place.

Schneidewind said HydraForce could contribute to these tools as well. “If there’s a pump problem or a valve problem on the machine, [the service technician] could access HydraForce data to troubleshoot the problem or know if the component needs to be replaced.”

By bringing together their expertise, HydraForce and Elevat are helping meet an industry need to connect more machines and provide the data necessary for machine owners to remain as productive as possible.

View the content below to learn more about Elevat's technologies and its other collaborations with HydraForce.