Electronics invade the cab

Joysticks and displays lead the transitions from mechanical links.

Equipment interiors are rapidly changing from noisy environments heated up by bulky hydraulic lines to cabs run with electronic joysticks and networked gauges tied to color displays. Off-high way environments, and therefore cabs, remain harsh environments, but electronics are improving operator comfort while both giving operators and technicians far more useful information.

The transportation industry's love affair with electronics is a key factor in this transition. Another factor is that getting hydraulics out of the cab saves space, reduces heat, and quiets the cab, among other benefits. The advantages are significant enough to get support from everyone involved in cab design. “I like it when the mechanical engineers want to get the hydraulics out of the cab and go to electronics,” said Ed Heck, Technology Development Manager at Hydro Electronic Devices Inc. (HED).