Durable technology: RSYN rotary encoders in the ‘Dachs’ armoured vehicle

The Pioneer Tank 2A1 Dachs is an armoured engineering vehicle used by the German Armed Forces that combines the functions of an excavator, bulldozer and crane. Designed for clearing, excavation, lifting and recovery operations, its working equipment includes a telescopic excavator arm with a backhoe bucket, a dozer blade and a winch. The telescopic arm can be used for excavation and lifting loads, while the dozer blade is used for pushing and grading, among other tasks, and also serves as a support during excavation and lifting operations.

To reliably detect the position of the dozer blade, an RSYN rotary angle sensor is used. It measures the angular position of the blade without contact and converts it into an electrical signal that can be processed by the vehicle control system. What may initially sound like a simple measurement task places considerable demands on the sensor in practice.

Machine movements and changing load conditions are part of everyday operation, as are vibrations, dirt, moisture and varying ambient temperatures. At the same time, the angular position information must remain reproducible even after many years of operation. RVDT rotary position sensors have proven particularly effective for applications of this kind.

Long-term availability as part of the technical solution

A rotary position sensor must not only perform reliably when first installed – it is equally important that replacement units and continued supply remain available when the machine is still in productive operation many years later. Even if the technical specifications in the datasheet meet the requirements, other questions also need to be considered: Is the measurement principle suitable for long-term use? Is the design robust enough? Can the machine continue to be maintained? And will the required sensor technology remain available over the long term?

The R36AS RVDT combines several characteristics that are particularly important for angular position measurement on working equipment and attachments:

• Rugged design for use in demanding machine environments
• Reliable angular position measurement directly at the mechanical movement
• Repeatable measurement performance for reliable detection of the operating angle
• Long term stability for applications with long machine life cycles
• Proven sensor technology with decades of successful use in real-world applications
• Long-term availability and security of supply
• High product continuity, helping to avoid or reduce design modifications and renewed approval processes

The long-term use of the R36AS RVDT in the Dachs armoured engineering vehicle demonstrates the importance that robust and continuously available sensor technology can have for machines with long service lives. Reliable angular position measurement supports the safe and repeatable operation of the working equipment. In applications such as this, not only the technical specifications but also product continuity and long-term availability play an important role in ensuring continued operation of the vehicle.

Image: Luhai Wong, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons