Deere's
January 2010 Â EquipmentWorld.com 26 AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Deere's electro-hydraulic controls mimic the pattern and feel of conventional grader controls W hen designing its G-Series graders, John Deere knew one needed to offer electro-hydraulic controls on its Grade Pro (or GP) models. It's the only way to add the automation that is neces-sary to help less skilled operators, says Mike Kennedy, grader engi-neering manager for Deere. And Deere had plenty of experience with electro-hydraulic controls after incorporating them into their dozer and backhoe lines. Since electro-hydraulic controls could take many forms, Deere's designers looked at several pos-sibilities, including keeping them on the steering column as a way to calm resistance from another key group of customers: experienced operators. Operating a grader is like play-ing a piano, says Kent Stickler, grader product marketing man-ager. Experienced operators know where all the keys are, and if that world is changed, they have to start all over. And so Deere opted to continue to use the conventional control pattern. But the decision to keep the traditional operating pattern didn't mean the GP controls would be the same ol,' same ol.' Deere moved the controls from the steering column to the operator's seat, putting fi ngertip controls on each arm rest. Not only do these eight controls have the pattern of conventional grader controls, they also have the same size knobs, throws and spacing. The goal was to make them feel identical to what they were used to operat-ing, says Kennedy. There are INNOVATIONS 2010 by Marcia Gruver 2010 Innovations.indd 26 12/18/09 3:10 PM