A viral video shows an excavator performing automated trenching using the Wajibao software. The operator sets the start and end points along with the desired depth, allowing the system to calculate the trajectory and slope automatically. This process eliminates the need for manual adjustments, which were previously required to achieve precise results.
The software features eight construction modes, including rapid modeling, leveling, and slope cutting. It utilizes satellite positioning with centimeter-level accuracy, indicated by the system's status bar. In the demonstration, the system measured a 15.05-meter distance between points and calculated the slope based on a 1% gradient requirement, with a target depth of approximately 70 centimeters.
The setup uses a custom square bucket instead of a traditional trapezoidal one, enabling the operator to form clean trench walls in a single pass. Similar intelligent guidance systems are already available in China from companies like Huace Navigation, Hi-Target, and Sinan Navigation. International manufacturers such as Volvo and Caterpillar offer comparable solutions like Dig Assist and Grade Assist.
These systems rely on Beidou GNSS high-precision positioning, IMU inertial navigation, and angle sensors mounted on the excavator's boom and stick. While these tools significantly reduce the need for manual expertise and allow novices to perform complex tasks, they currently function as guidance systems rather than fully autonomous solutions, requiring the operator to execute the movements.
