When it comes to installing solar plants in open areas, speed and precision are decisive for installers. Due to the enormous size of the plants, time is even more precious than it is with other projects. To make matters worse, error sources multiply. Instead of traditional surveying methods, Schletter uses a technology that is well-known to car drivers: GPS.
Guided by satellites, the pile drivers drive independently to the intended positions which saves both time and money. Painstaking operations like the staking of the positions for the driven piles and the control of the results now become redundant respectively are carried out by machines. This makes life much easier for the technicians in charge. This procedure is not only quick but also much less prone to errors than usual surveying methods and brings about considerable advantages.
The pile-drivers are manufactured by NASKU, a company that is specialized in navigation and automation systems. These pile-drivers place the pile-driven foundations accurately to 1 to 3 centimeters. This spares the solar installers painstaking and expensive re-adjustments. In order to achieve such accurateness, NASKU applies the extra precise DGPS technology instead of the usual GPS technology. Combined with compasses and further sensors, also high-value tachymeters can be used for positioning.
Satellite-based pile-driving technology depends on robust high-tech receivers that are designed especially for pile-driving. Even though they are not bigger than a shoe box, these high-tech receivers contain a Linux processor, GPS sensors for positioning and determination of direction (heading) as well as a CAN bus system for the operation of the hydraulics of the pile-driver. As the sensors can receive both GLONASS and GPS signals, potential gaps in the signal coverage can be reliably avoided.
The GPS signals are processed by an elaborate and user-friendly software which not only calculates the coordinates for the foundations, but also documents all work steps. The program records the actual position and inclination of the pile-driven profile and sends these data to the Schletter headquarters, if required.
With Schletter, precision is of course is not limited to the installation of the solar plant. Thanks to the GPS-driven pile-driver, pile-driving can be carried out quicker than ever before. Thus, the solar installers can move on to their next project without losing time.