1. www.iVTinternational.com
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Strength with style: Lamborghini adopts a new
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September2014
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THE MAGAZINE FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY, DESIGN & ENGINEERING
iVTIndustrialVehicleTechnologyInternationalSEPTEMBER2014VOL22No.3www.iVTinternational.comPublishedbyUKIPMedia&EventsLtd
THE MAGAZINE FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY, DESIGN & ENGINEERINGTHE MAGAZINE FOR INDUSTRIAL VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY, DESIGN & ENGINEERING
New OEM concepts
›Volvo GaiaX
›Yanmar YT01
Design Challenges
›Chinese concepts
›JCB Project 120

2. 44 iVTInternational.com September 2014
URBANMYTH
RICHARD CARR, iVT INTERNATIONAL

3. CASE STUDY
45iVTInternational.com September 2014
THE LATEST IN VOLVO’S ‘MYTHOLOGICAL’ SERIES OF CONCEPTS
TAKES INSPIRATION FROM SWEDISH DESIGN CULTURE TO BRING
THE COMPACT EXCAVATOR INTO LINE WITH THE DEMANDS OF THE
MODERN CITY ENVIRONMENT. BUT THE GAIAX IS NO MERE FANTASY…
The latest offering from Volvo
CE’s decade-long production
line of mythically themed concepts
may be slightly less dramatic than
the SfinX excavator, Centaur hauler,
Gryphin wheeled loader and Fenix
paver, but it’s the one that’s by far
the most likely to make it onto the
construction equipment market
without requiring dilution of its
innovations to make it more
palatable to commercial tastes.
As was sneak-previewed in iVT
Sept/Oct 2013 (p36), the concept
unveiled at ConExpo this March
took the humble compact excavator
and gave it a thoroughly modern
makeover, drawing inspiration from
a range of sources including Swedish
furniture. Like its predecessors, the
GaiaX was also drawn from Greek
mythology, being inspired by the
primordial deity Gaia, the creator
and mother of the universe.
“The Mother Earth figure
embodies many characteristics of
the concept compact excavator –
its innate affinity with the ground,
its power, strength, and all-seeing
control, as well as its protective
qualities,” says Sidney Levy, acting
design director at Volvo CE.
“This is a machine designed to
work in harmony with nature, with
minimal environmental impact, and
that cares for the user and site staff,
keeping them safe from harm. Like
Gaia, it is the first of a generation –
and of exceptional beauty.”
User first
“The GaiaX places the user right
at the heart of the machine,” Levy
continues. “It should be easy, almost
effortless to operate, providing the
ultimate in comfort, efficiency,
productivity and safety.”
Of course, doing all that is easy if
you’re using billion-dollar high-tech
solutions – the real test of a designer’s
creativity and ability is to visualize a
beautiful machine that’s optimized
for use without being way out of the
price range of its target market.
The user-centric GaiaX is
therefore very minimalistic with
plenty of ‘air’ in the design and no
more structural features than are
required to carry out the job. The
traditional cab has been replaced
with a lightweight steel guard rail,
with the battery pack alone acting
as counterweight.
For users who might baulk at the
absence of a weatherproof operating
environment, however, one clever
option is a ‘zip-up’ cab that maintains
the simple approach.
“We felt that the zip-up cab was
an elegant solution, and although
it has not been used in construction
equipment before, it
THE LATEST IN VOLVO’S ‘MYTHOLOGICAL’ SERIES OF CONCEPTS
TAKES INSPIRATION FROM SWEDISH DESIGN CULTURE TO BRING
THE COMPACT EXCAVATOR INTO LINE WITH THE DEMANDS OF THE
MODERN CITY ENVIRONMENT. BUT THE G

4. 47iVTInternational.com September 2014
has been successfully implemented
on other vehicles,” reveals Levy.
This minimalist approach offers
two notable advantages – economy
and sustainability. Given the reduced
parts list, the purchase price of this
potentially high-volume concept –
at least for the basic option – should
become much more affordable than
a traditional model, although Volvo
is unwilling to estimate by just how
much. “Given the speed at which
this type of technology progresses, it
is difficult to price a concept product
such as the GaiaX – but as these
systems advance and become more
readily available they will become
more affordable,” Levy concedes.
Looking at the cab, however, one
highly valued ergonomic aspect of
today’s construction equipment
appears to have been abandoned
completely. Has this minimalism
been achieved at the expense of
useful storage spaces, I ask?
“When we envisaged the GaiaX,
we imagined how it might be used
on future jobsites and how it might
interact with new types of machines
and processes,” Levy counters. “Part
of this imagined scenario involves
the operator spending less time in
the cab [see sidebar, Groundbreaking
HMI] and more time concentrating
on high-value operations – so it’s
possible they will not need to store
anything in the machine at all.”
Then there is the ecological
benefit – by reducing the amount
of steel required, Volvo is able to
explore how it can ensure its future
machines can become even more
environmentally responsible. This
minimalist machine was therefore
designed to find out whether its
customers valued this approach.
“The GaiaX is designed to be
simple and easy to use, so it would be
possible to customize the machine
depending on the job at hand,” adds
Levy. “That simplicity, as well as the
GROUNDBREAKING HMI
Though the structure of the
GaiaX may be quite simple, the
human-machine interface (HMI) is
highly advanced – with half of the six-
strong design team dedicating their
time to developing a revolutionary
operator experience.
“The GaiaX project has been an
incredible opportunity for our design
team to experiment with the way
that construction equipment is used
– we feel as if we are paving the way
to the future of Volvo and perhaps
the industry too,” says Levy.
Operators can still sit on the
excavator in a traditional way – as
required for precise movement and
transport – but because the GaiaX is
designed to be partially autonomous,
most applications can be carried out
remotely by using the removable
augmented reality tablet computer.
The main benefit of this transparent
iPad-like device is that only one
person is required to use the machine
– the operator can dig and keep an
eye on the surrounding environment
at the same time. Remote operation
also allows the machine to be used
in potentially dangerous situations,
while the operator maintains a safe
distance. However, the mini joysticks
ensure that the operator always has
ultimate control, including the power
to override the machine if necessary.
The augmented reality tablet will
be mapped with the city’s utility
systems, showing the exact location
of water pipes and electrical cables
on screen and enabling the operator
to visualize or simulate the work,
using segmented reality, before it is
carried out. A ground scanner gives
precise information on obstacles to
guarantee the effectiveness of auto-
dig modes and projects images onto
the ground to show the worksite and
mark safe zones for the operator and
passers-by. The tablet also connects to
other machines in the fleet to provide
a more effective way of working.
The HMI will always suggest the
most economical and ecologically
friendly way to complete the work
but will give the user the option of
entering new requirements that are
related to the task. For example,
material may need removing from a
certain area to allow for safe passage
of other vehicles, or a larger excavation
area may be required to provide
better visibility.
“Ground-penetrating radar
technology does exist, but the images
we displayed at ConExpo show this in
a more advanced state than is available
today,” answers Levy when asked
when this technology could appear
on standard excavators. “The basic
technology has been developed, but
more research is needed to make this
as accurate and efficient as possible.”
CASE STUDY
“THE GaiaX PROJECT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE WAY
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT IS USED – WE FEEL AS IF
WE ARE PAVING THE WAY TO THE FUTURE OF VOLVO
AND PERHAPS THE INDUSTRY TOO”

5. CASE STUDY
49iVTInternational.com September 2014
simple interfaces between the parts,
means it would be easy to switch
parts and create variations – so, if
necessary, regional variations could
potentially be implemented.”
Adding to the environmental
credentials of the GaiaX are the
lithium-ion rechargeable batteries
that should see the operator through
a whole working day, although the
machine can also be used while
plugged into an external electrical
power source. Its four electrically
powered tracks provide good ground
surface contact and ensure superb
stability and maneuverability, even
on steep inclines.
The hydraulic system has not
been removed completely, however
– the machine is a mix of existing
and new technology, incorporating
electrohydraulic pumps.
“We envisage the GaiaX being
used in city environments, such as
in the street or even inside buildings,
where it would be easy to plug into
a power source. That said, there are
some great leaps being made in the
development of electrical engines,
which should one day be small and
powerful enough to drive a machine
such as this,” adds Levy.
Sitting comfortably
The GaiaX’s zero emissions and
silent movement may be advantages
when operating in built-up areas,
but could perhaps be a disadvantage
in terms of safety. Passers-by are
therefore protected using warning
sensors that alert the operator to
their presence, while an airbag
inflates from the seat to shield the
operator in case of collisions, roll-
over or falling objects. The machine
is also equipped with an integrated
first aid kit.
The orange guard rails command
the attention of those around the
job site for a high degree of safety
and are covered with leather, a
natural material that is especially
pleasant to the touch.
One of the main inspirations
springs from another of Sweden’s
national specialties. Award-winning
Swedish furniture designer Monica
Förster was involved in the project
right from its inception, creating
the operator’s seat from three-
dimensional molded wood to exude
Swedish beauty and simplicity – a
first in the off-highway industry.
“Our design team attended a
conference with Monica Förster last
year and we were so excited by her
design process that we wanted to
apply it to one of our machines,”
reveals Levy.
The unusual seat encourages a
symbiotic relationship between the
operator and machine, with the
natural flexibility of the corrugated
wood helping to absorb any bumps
or vibrations. It’s unclear how this
might compare with the latest air-
suspended models in terms of
reducing WBV, but the tension in
the seat can be adjusted depending
on the corrugation, offering a lot of
flexibility. “By using wood, we are
able to reinforce our commitment
to environmentally conscious
machinery, as well as evoking our
Swedish design roots,” he furthers.
Förster’s design process involves
creating simple mock-ups of her
projects using paper and straws – a
refreshingly low-tech approach that
appealed to the Volvo CE designers.
“Usually we start work on a new
concept by jumping on the 3D
computer-aided design package.
We had never worked with physical
objects at this stage before – but it’s
definitely helped to unleash our
creativity,” explains Levy.
“When we started to envisage the
GaiaX, we wanted to take our design
MAIN IMAGE: The ‘official’
prototype (below) featured
quad tracks, but these
other options will be
shared with customers
to maximize feedback
ABOVE: Inspiration for the
driver’s seat came from
an unusual source – the
Swedish furniture industry

6. CASE STUDY
process back to basics, to experiment
with different approaches to design
and to think about our machines in
different ways. It’s important to keep
developing our creative processes,
and this is definitely something that
we will do with future products.”
This counter-intuitive back-to-
basics approach for something as
advanced as the GaiaX also allowed
the design team to remain focused
on its main goal of simplicity and
sustainability throughout the entire
design process. “Many people have
been involved in bringing the GaiaX
to life and we are all proud of what
we have managed to achieve,” Levy
says. “By drawing from the furniture
industry and incorporating Monica’s
aesthetic expertise, we have created
a practical and elegant machine that
perfectly encapsulates Swedish
simplicity and innovation.”
True to life?
Given that all of Volvo’s other
mythical concepts have been
displayed only as large-scale models,
it was a little disappointing that the
life-size GaiaX shown at ConExpo
was not fully operational. But while
its tracks, arm and boom might have
been static, visitors were able to test
the concept HMI for themselves
using a prototype of the transparent
controller – although that was not
capable of completing all required
machine functions.
but to design and demonstrate
potential future technologies and
enter into a dialog with engineers
and customers and come up with
different options for our future
machines,” Levy explains.
In fact, some innovative features
had to be removed from the GaiaX
as these elements may be included
in Volvo machines much sooner
than 2030 – the date the design
team chose to envisage their future
machine working – but Sidney Levy
won’t be drawn on which features
were removed and are currently
under discussion.
“We use our concept machines as
a sort of lab, exploring and testing
new technologies that may find
their way into our machines in the
future. We use the design process as
a chance to spark communication
in order to ensure that any features
that are ready are implemented as
soon as possible.” iVT
50 iVTInternational.com September 2014
Apps (which are still available
for free download from iTunes and
Google Play) also allowed ConExpo
visitors to take a 360° walk around
the machine, with a zoom facility.
Augmented reality functions enable
anyone to intuitively interact with
the innovative excavator.
“The aim of the project was not
to produce a fully operational model
or to develop these technologies,
MAIN IMAGE: Sidney Levy,
acting design director at
Volvo CE (photo: Jennifer
Barteluk)
BELOW: Free apps enable
the user to get a greater
insight into the GaiaX
KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY
Despite being more production-friendly
than the SfinX excavator, the GaiaX
certainly seems to have adopted some
of its more obvious features, such as the
lattice boom and independently movable
tracks. In our 2004 exploration of the
SfinX (see www.ivtinternational.com) it
was revealed that the boom was designed
in expectation of suitable steels being
developed to handle the digging forces
– so, a decade on, is the GaiaX’s boom
ready for operation yet?
“As a futuristic concept machine, the
GaiaX also envisages technologies and
materials that are not yet in use,” Levy
confirms. “The boom may not be
operational at the moment, but the
process of developing and designing the
GaiaX’s structure gives us a chance to
look forward and envisage how these
machines will work in the future.”
So have any of the innovative ideas
the SfinX showcased made their way
into current Volvo products yet, even
in diluted form? “The role of concept
machines is to ask questions and discuss
possibilities. By investigating different
ways of constructing our machines, we are
able to understand how best to develop
our current products. Although they may
not include features directly taken from
concept machines, our existing products
are influenced by the issues we raise in
creating these concepts. For example,
we discussed different ways to improve
operator comfort and access to the cab,
and this helped us to discover how we
can enhance the operator experience. We
have since improved the railings on our
machines to facilitate easy access, and we
addressed the choice of material and
colors we use when creating our cabs. “
Also mentioned in that 2004 article
was an expectation that future excavator
operators might wear fighter-pilot style
helmets with VR projections – but given
the GaiaX’s transparent controller, is that
no longer Volvo’s belief? “We made this
prediction based on our research at a
time when that type of technology was
almost unheard of,” says Levy. “Now, with
the development of wearable technology,
it is more and more likely that this kind of
feature will be used in the future. However,
the aim of a concept machine is to help us
discuss all possibilities, not to find a single
solution – predicting a range of features is
part of our development process.”
“THE GaiaX’S STRUCTURE GIVES US
A CHANCE TO LOOK FORWARD AND
ENVISAGE HOW THESE MACHINES
WILL WORK IN THE FUTURE”