Innovation Spotlight: Mobile Control for JLG Scissor Lifts

Changes in technology are taking various industries by storm, and the construction sector is one of them. In fact, mobile device adoption in construction has grown rapidly in recent years. For example, five years ago drones and wearable devices for construction workers had little, if any, role on the job site. Now, they’re quite common, along with the continued use of laptops, tablets and smartphones. 

And, thanks to the continuous evolution of these devices, and the apps that accompany them, remote controls have long passed the days where they were just for home entertainment. You can now control an endless number of devices with your phone: Your thermostat, lights, blinds, doorbell and even your car. 

With all the advancements, imagine if these same devices could allow you to turn on and control a machine on your job site. For example, what if you could navigate a scissor lift to various places on a job site by using your smartphone as a remote control? Or, even completing a machine inspection on the same scissor lift? Technology advancements today, including the latest in mobile technology, are expanding across the construction industry and making these scenarios possible — and it’s having a big impact on job sites. 

Advancing the industry
Looking at the latest technological developments, like BIM files and virtual reality training, it is easy to see how they enable equipment operators to perform their jobs faster and with higher precision. 

But besides making us more efficient, technology advances have also helped to make the job site safer. Ask anyone who uses a scissor lift regularly, and chances are they’ll tell you they’re restricted from performing various tasks due to the length of the cord connected to the platform control box. Whether it’s driving or loading the machine onto a truck, through a narrow doorway or navigating it through a muddy outdoor space, there are several circumstances where you want to control your scissor lift from outside the platform.

Why not just make the platform control box cord longer? Sure, that’s an option, but how long? What works for one application may not suffice for another. Instead, what if we eliminated the cord all together?

Well, that’s what JLG® has done with its Mobile Control app, which is a wireless technology that enables users to drive, steer and load scissor lifts while in a stowed position from a mobile device. A truly customer-inspired innovation designed to enhance a user’s experience with JLG® electric scissor lifts.

Going mobile
With the JLG Mobile Control® app, operators to have a better view of the job site while moving equipment, which helps improve safety conditions and reduce potential damage to the working environment. The technology is an evolution of the remote frequency control box, which allowed operators to perform a similar function but required the device to be tethered to the machine. 

Among the various advantages, having the ability to remotely control the lift assists operators in positioning the machine into areas with low clearances, while also allowing them to choose the most suitable location from which to see obstacles on the job site. Additionally, the app allows machines to be loaded onto trucks at the end of the day without the need for an operator in the platform or walking next to the machine.

Easy to use and equipped with an intuitive user interface, the app displays all the essential features needed to run the scissor as if the operator was standing inside the platform. In addition to displaying the battery and machine status, the app features an important horn symbol which allows operators to easily alert job site personnel when the machine is operating nearby. 

Pre-launch testing demonstrated that the learning curve to use the app to move the machine around the job site took only minutes, even for less experienced operators.

How JLG Mobile Control works

The JLG Mobile Control app offers wireless control for select JLG electric scissor lifts, including the ability to:

• Operate your scissor lift from a distance with Bluetooth® enabled technology, allowing better visibility of possible obstructions while maintaining a safe distance from the machine
• Position your machine into tight spots or navigate through areas with low clearance from outside, and away from, the platform
• Load your machine onto trucks at the end of the work day with ease, from the ground, at a distance from the machine 

For more about how this technology works, check out these 11 GIFs that explain the JLG Mobile Control app. 

To learn more about the JLG Mobile Control App, check out this video, and to see the latest JLG equipment technology and innovations at work.

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