Perfect winter sport conditions – Thanks to PistenBully and STW

At the end of February, in the Bavarian holiday region Allgäu, the best ski jumpers, cross-country skiers and Nordic combined athletes will compete to decide the world’s best. Following on from 1987 and 2005 Oberstdorf, for several weeks, will again be the center of the winter sport world. The PistenBully snow groomers from Kässbohrer will ensure perfect competition conditions on the cross-country ski trails. One machine, in a fleet of the otherwise red hydrostatically driven tracked vehicles, catches the eye: the green PistenBully 600E+. The 600E+ brings improved performance and sustainability, thanks to a diesel-electric hybrid drive with intelligent automation technology.

The Kaufbeuren company STW developed the control and sensing technology, and the electric drives, of the green PistenBully.  The main vehicle and the drive control are built around components from the ESX family of programmable control units from the local specialist for mobile automation.

The intelligent machine control calculates, for example, the optimal engine operating point based on the accelerator position, the slope being driven, the speed and the current milling requirement. The diesel engine can then deliver the required power with the optimal fuel efficiently. The engine is operated consistently at a lower speed and a higher load. The PistenBully and STW engineering teams developed this functionality together, as part of a unique partnership.

Along with the drive, the implements and assistance systems of the snow groomer, such as the snow shield and the snow mill, are also intelligently controlled. The operator, for example, is assisted by a rear implement mount that steers independently and can automatically compensate for a steep transverse slope. With such technology, the Nordic Ski World Championships organizers are optimally equipped to provide perfectly prepared trails, where the athletes will be able to perform at their best.

Further, the operators, owners and the manufacturer of the PistenBully have the advantage of the vehicle being connected to the cloud via the STW TCG communication module. With this robust communication solution, the PistenBully can be accessed remotely, allowing software updates and providing access to live operating and position data. With appropriate backend software, an efficient snow and fleet management is possible.

The powerMELA electric motors on the 600E+ ensure dynamic propulsion, smoother running with reduced fuel consumption and, of course, lower CO2 and noise emissions. This means the cross-country ski trails and race tracks for the elite Skiers in Oberstdorf are being prepared in a more sustainable way.

As a final word, it can be said that the PistenBully 600E+ is a machine with “wow” factor, and by providing excellent drive and automation components, STW makes a significant contribution to the impressive driving and work performance of the green snow groomer.