Radio remote control systems are now used in a number of industries and for various applications. They make work environments safer, giving users the ability to operate equipment from a distance, in positions that offer a better view and away from noisy, unsafe environments. Remote radio controls also allow operators to more easily handle machinery, reducing fatigue while increasing productivity and efficiency. Keep reading to learn about 19 benefits of radio remote controls for industrial applications!
Applications That Use Radio Remote Control Systems
Offering operators greater freedom of movement, radio remote controls for industrial applications are being adopted more widely and utilized for an increasing number of purposes.
Radio remote control systems are frequently used for operating the following:
- Bulldozers
- Concrete pumping trucks
- Core drills
- Demolition robots
- Paving machinery
- Rock crushers
- Surface preparation grinders
- Tower cranes
- Truck cranes
- Wall and wire saws
- Wheel loaders
Radio Remote Controls for Industrial Applications
Remote radio controls continue to evolve, with some manufacturers applying Bluetooth technology to increase responsiveness while also enabling operators to control machinery from even further away. For applications where machine diagnostics and feedback are essential, cutting-edge color displays allow users to access data from machinery while it’s in operation. This allows operators to determine such things as load weight, oil pressure, sling length, wind speed and other aspects that affect operations. Some radio remote control systems even feature video cameras that stream video in real-time, enabling a more comprehensive view of a work environment while keeping the operator safe. These added features allow operators to make better decisions, increasing productivity.
Radio remote control systems offer the following advantages:
1. Allows users to enter dangerous environments
When it comes to remote-controlled robots, radio remote control systems allow operators to move them into environments with conditions like tight spaces, heights, extreme temperatures or other dangers harmful to humans. This enables work to be done under extremely harsh conditions.
2. Augments productivity
The mobility that radio remote control systems provide also helps operators improve productivity, as they can more freely move about a facility. This freedom of movement allows one operator to control multiple pieces of equipment at the same time.
3. Better positioning
In lifting applications, it allows crane and hoist operators to better position themselves so that they can prevent shifting and snagging of loads, avoid pinch points, ensure pathways are unobstructed and prevent damage to the load or nearby equipment.
4. Contributes to consistency
When preparing surfaces during production, creating a uniform surface makes for a more aesthetically pleasing end product. With surface grinders, the speed and pressure applied during grinding will affect a surface’s appearance. Wireless remotes help operators maintain consistent pressure and speed. This is also the case with radio remote controls for industrial applications involving core drills and wall saws, where quality is also improved.
5. Decreases downtime
It’s not uncommon for damage to occur to cabling during material handling applications, giving an advantage to equipment operated via radio remote controls. For industrial applications, damaged cabling results in production halting for repairs, even if spare cabling is available. When remote transmitters are damaged, a spare transmitter can restart operations almost immediately, greatly reducing the time equipment remains inoperable.
6. Ease of use
Much like a video game controller, radio remote controls for industrial applications are easy to use. Training on remotely controlled equipment is straightforward, though like video games it takes practice to become an expert. However, digital display screens and standardized controls help guide operators and technicians during operation, when changing attachments, servicing and troubleshooting equipment issues.
7. Easy to configure
Modern radio remote controls for industrial applications are more easily customizable than ever, allowing users to configure details on such things as equipment functionalities and on which radio frequencies it operates.
8. Enhances awareness
The material handling industry benefits greatly from radio remote controls. For industrial applications like operating cranes or hoists, it allows operators to be aware of their surroundings so that they can more safely lift loads.
9. Ergonomics
By decreasing strain on an operator’s hands, radio remote control systems help keep fatigue from setting in, even after many hours of work.
10. Freedom of movement
Radio remote control systems allow devices or machinery to be used at a distance without cabling. This means operators aren’t limited by cable length, while also allowing them to control equipment from safer vantage points.
11. Helps prevent fatigue
Manual labor takes a physical toll on a worker’s body, a problem reduced considerably by the use of radio remote controls. For industrial applications, the reduction in physical effort needed to run remote-controlled equipment like surface preparation grinders or jackhammers helps prevent injuries often caused due to fatigue.
12. Improves safety
Being able to operate machinery from a distance allows for safer operation, particularly of heavy machinery, along with removing tripping hazards from wired equipment. When machine operators can position themselves away from the machinery they’re guiding, it keeps them away from moving components, dangerous dust, falling debris, loud noises and vibrations caused by heavy machinery. In emergency situations, radio remote control systems also allow operators to react more quickly to prevent catastrophic accidents and injuries.
13. Leads to greater efficiency
Wireless remote controls are easily transportable, so require little in the way of setup. They also reduce the number of workers needed in many applications, cutting labor expenses.
14. Less chance of damage
Cabling for heavy equipment can easily be damaged, even when not in use, as it’s exposed continuously to potential rollovers, snagging or other workplace accidents that can impair operation. Radio remote control systems can be stored more securely when not in use, and when in use they generally remain in the operator’s hands or in close proximity, lessening the chance of damage.
15. Less cumbersome
While wired equipment is cumbersome to use, remote-controlled radio transmitters allow operators to control many equipment functions from a single, mobile location.
16. Less maintenance
Radio remote controls for industrial applications require less maintenance, as cables used in such conditions tend to wear quickly. Equipment utilizing wired controls can also be adapted easily to work remotely via radio signals.
17. Multi-tasking
Remote-controlled equipment enables operators to multitask, preparing the next step in a project, or allowing the operator to adjust other equipment. With core drills outfitted with an automatic drilling system, operators can select speed and depth, letting the drill take care of the rest, or even control multiple drills at the same time.
18. Operating multiple units
While wired equipment requires connection to its controller, this isn’t the case for radio remote controls. For industrial applications like crane operations, an operator simply selects the cranes, moves them into position, adjusts them to properly position the load, configures each crane’s movement to coordinate the lift and allows an operator to continuously adjust to keep the load secured.
19. Saves time
While wired equipment often requires considerable time to install and is more cumbersome to use, radio remote control systems require no installation and their lack of wiring makes them easier to bring online.
Contact Springer Controls
Since 1996, Springer Controls has been a leading electrical controls industry leader, serving the needs of numerous industries. We offer a full line of products, including motor starters, power-switching devices, 22 mm & 30 mm pilot devices, hoist controls, signaling devices, and other control devices. If you have questions or would like to inquire about our radio remote control systems, please contact us at Springer Controls today!