A remote-controlled crane made by Zoomlion uses 5G communications and has completed its first ever hoisting on the construction of Zhengzhou Jiangshan School in China.

Installed remotely and intelligently, the system was developed based on Chinese firm Zoomlion’s unmanned tower crane project with the support of 5G technology from Henan Telecom. It enables remote intelligent control, which replaces previous operations at high-altitudes or ground level.

This is said to have filled the gap in remote intelligent hoisting of tower cranes, promoted tower crane restoration, modified the construction method, improved the operator’s working environment and reduced labour intensity to improve personal safety.

The crane uses four systems:

• All-around video surveillance: It realises all-around and multi-angle observation of the crane’s movement and surrounding area, including blind spots, which improves operation convenience and helps ensure construction safety;
• Visualised intelligent tracking system of the tower crane hook: Composed of infra-red cameras and digital sensing equipment, this improves hoisting accuracy and effectively reduces hidden safety hazards during the hoisting process;
• Digital tower crane status monitoring: The different sensors can monitor and display all parameters including boom height, wind speed, temperature and humidity and can predict motion trail to avoid danger and protect the operator’s safety;
• Anti-collision and intelligent dispatch: It uses the low latency and stability of the 5G network, adopts binocular cameras and combines AI and computer vision technologies to achieve obstacle detection within ten metres of the hook.

Driven by Zoomlion’s Product 4.0A strategy, the company has applied 5G technology to tower cranes, cranes, pump trucks and excavators, and in the intelligent upgrades of the company’s production lines and intelligent factories.

In the future, Zoomlion says it will work ceaselessly with top 5G companies to accelerate its digital transformation and upgrading in a bid to build smart factories and further promote intelligent upgrades of its products.

Founded in 1992, Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology is a high-end equipment manufacturing enterprise that integrates engineering machinery, agricultural machinery and financial services. The company now sells 568 products from 70 product lines covering 11 categories.