Fully automatic

Vögele's Navitronic Plus, the new system for 3D machine control was used on a Super 1900-2 tracked paver during construction of Germany's L546 road.

Although the project, which by-passes the village of St. Leon-Rot, involved tight bends and several changes in transverse profile, the paver was able to work fully automatically, a spokesman for Vögele said.

"All that remained to be done by the paving team was monitor the laying progress and co-ordinate the feed of the paver with mix," he added.

The paving team connected a Topcon mm GPS positioning system to the open interface of the Vögele unit for 3D machine control, which combines satellite-based and laser-based measurements.

"Based on this combination of satellite and laser-based measurements, the machine's location can be calculated with the high millimetre accuracy demanded for road construction contracts," the spokesman said.