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Intelligent Boom Control
Intelligent Boom Control IBC
John Deere introduced Intelligent Boom Control (IBC) for forwarders in 2013. With IBC, boom control is precise, fast and easy because the operator can focus on controlling the grapple rather than the boom joint movements.
IBC was also introduced for harvesters in 2017. In the harvester, IBC has been adjusted to the work cycle; the trajectory and functioning of the boom adjust automatically to the harvester's work phases.
User experiences
Patrik Aittamäki from the Finnish forest machine company Metsäkoneyhtymä Aittamäki Oy comments on his experiences on the test drive.
Patrik Aittamäki from the Finnish forest machine company Metsäkoneyhtymä Aittamäki Oy comments on his experiences on the test drive.
Johnny Granvik from the Finnish forest machine company Granvikin Metsätyö Oy gives his thoughts about IBC.
Johnny Granvik from the Finnish forest machine company Granvikin Metsätyö Oy gives his thoughts about IBC.
Jarno Pikkarainen from the Finnish forest machine company Motourakointi Pikkarainen Oy tells about his experiences with IBC.
Jarno Pikkarainen from the Finnish forest machine company Motourakointi Pikkarainen Oy tells about his experiences with IBC.
IBC in forwarders
Ease and speed
Intelligent Boom Control is available as an option for forwarders. With IBC, the boom is very precise and easy to operate: the operator controls the boom tip directly instead of controlling independent boom joint movements. It also considerably reduces the number of tuning parameters needed and increases the durability of the boom structures and hydraulic cylinders.
Operators can adjust the overall speed of the IBC system to accommodate their needs. They can also adjust the speed between various boom parts or change it by manually using the extension boom during operation. Switching between IBC and conventional boom control is done with a press of a button.
Electrical cylinder end damping
The IBC system features electrical end damping for all the main boom movement directions. The system dampens the cylinder end movements softly and stops strong blow-like loads in the end positions, making for smoother operation and also improving the boom’s durability.
Harvester IBC
Operator takes the harvester head to the desired place. Sensors recognize the location of the head and the system adjusts boom movements and extension automatically. The operation of IBC in harvesters has been adapted to harvester’s work cycle.
Easy
IBC controls intelligently the use of extension in different stages, which makes work much easier giving the operator more time to plan the next move.
Accurate
The boom is very accurate and steady even with longest reaches.
End damping
The end damping stops the blow-like loads of the cylinder ends and the operator does not need to watch for boom positions. Work is more fluent and the boom structures and hydraulic cylinders last longer.
Fast
When the harvester head is driven to the tree, it moves automatically to the cutting height. After the cutting, when the boom is drawn in, the harvester head moves automatically to the processing height.
Slope mode
The boom tip automatically follows the desired trajectory. The slope mode adjusts the trajectory for working on a slope.
IBC in wheeled harvesters
Manoeuvring the harvester head between trees is now as easy as grabbing a coffee cup with your own hand. The boom responds calmly and the system takes care of the boom’s movements comprehensively.
The boom tip automatically follows the desired trajectory. Choosing hill mode makes the trajectory suitable for working on a slope.
The harvester head is driven to the optimal harvesting height. The system guides the use of the extension intelligently during different work phases and reduces stress on the boom.
Intelligent control of the boom turning improves the control of movements also in long reaches. The boom is easy to use and precise to operate.
IBC in the customer magazine In The Forest
Read customer comments about Intelligent Boom Control.
Grapple is easy to operate
Intelligent Boom Control has made the contractor’s life so much easier that he wouldn’t work without it anymore. “It’s so easy to operate the grapple. You can get more done in a day in thinnings, since it is quicker to guide the grapple to the trees. Now I’m so used to IBC that if it is turned off the work doesn’t seem to progress at all.”
Janne Sipiläinen, In The Forest 1/2017
IBC for 1270G harvester and CH7 boom
“The system is very good. Intelligent Boom Control makes it easier to control the boom with more precision and at a much faster speed,” forest machine contractor Ville Hänninen sums up his experiences with IBC system in the John Deere 1270G harvester. In The Forest 2/2017.
IBC for harvesters
Intelligent Boom Control is taking the use of harvesters to a completely new level. With the harvester’s IBC, the operator controls only the harvester head while the system takes care of the boom’s movement.
Intelligent Boom Control
With IBC, the boom is very precise and easy to operate: the operator controls the boom tip directly instead of controlling independent boom joint movements.
The system is switched on and off with the press of a button.
The system dampens the cylinder end movements softly and stops strong blow-like loads in the end positions, making for smoother operation and also improving the boom’s durability.