An apparatus for smoothing pavement surfaces includes a wheeled frame and a smoothing drum where the smoothing drum is rotatable on a spinning axis mounted on the wheeled frame generally parallel to a pavement surface to be smoothed, and at a non-perpendicular angle to to the direction of travel of the smoothing device.

A milling machine can include a frame; at least two tracks coupled to the frame for propelling the milling machine; first and second hydraulic cylinders configured to steer each of the at least two tracks, respectively; an adjustable hydraulic tie rod extending between the at least two tracks; first and second steering collars coupled to the each of the tracks to move the tracks, wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the first steering collar and the second hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the second steering collar, and wherein the adjustable hydraulic tie rod is coupled to both of the steering collars; one or more sensors to determine the positions of the at least two tracks; and a hydraulic steering control system coupled to the first and second hydraulic cylinders and the adjustable hydraulic tie rod and configured to vary a steering mode of the at least two tracks between a parallel steering mode and an Ackerman steering mode, wherein if one of the one or more sensors fails, the hydraulic steering control system defaults to move the at least two tracks into the Ackerman steering mode.

Non-ridable and non-motorized machines for removing temporary tape that include a chassis or frame having front and rear wheels, a vertical support post mounted on the frame or chassis between the front and rear wheels, a horizontal arm mounted on the vertical support post, and a rotatable spool assembly attached to one end of the horizontal arm for winding used temporary tape thereon, wherein the horizontal arm is rotatably coupled to the vertical support to allow the spool assembly to be positioned on either side of the chassis when the horizontal arm is rotated with respect to the vertical support post. The non-ridable temporary tape removal machine can be manually and guided along a pavement during a tape removal operation. The non-motorized temporary tape removal machines can be or coupled to an auxiliary motorized device that pushes the non-motorized temporary tape removal machine during a tape removal operation.

Non-ridable and non-motorized machines for removing temporary tape that include a chassis or frame having front and rear wheels, a vertical support post mounted on the frame or chassis between the front and rear wheels, a horizontal arm mounted on the vertical support post, and a rotatable spool assembly attached to one end of the horizontal arm for winding used temporary tape thereon, wherein the horizontal arm is rotatably coupled to the vertical support to allow the spool assembly to be positioned on either side of the chassis when the horizontal arm is rotated with respect to the vertical support post. The non-ridable temporary tape removal machine can be manually and guided along a pavement during a tape removal operation. The non-motorized temporary tape removal machines can be or coupled to an auxiliary motorized device that pushes the non-motorized temporary tape removal machine during a tape removal operation.

An ultrathin bonded asphalt surface (UBAS) system and method for resurfacing paved asphalt surfaces, particularly local, collector and residential streets in residential neighborhoods, including cul-de-sacs and roundabouts. The asphalt surface can be prepared with a milling machine. A spray paver applies emulsion bonding liquid (EBL) to the prepared asphalt surface at a predetermined shot rate. Aggregate material is discharged from the spray paver onto the EBL. The system is utilized in performing a UBAS resurfacing method according to the present invention.

There are provided high power laser and laser mechanical earth removing equipment, and operations using laser cutting tools having stand off distances. These equipment provide high power laser beams, greater than kW to cut and volumetrically remove targeted materials and to remove laser affected material with gravity assistance, mechanical cutters, fluid jets, scrapers and wheels. There is also provided a method of using this equipment in mining, road resurfacing and other earth removing or working activities.

There are provided high power laser and laser mechanical earth removing equipment, and operations using laser cutting tools having stand off distances. These equipment provide high power laser beams, greater than kW to cut and volumetrically remove targeted materials and to remove laser affected material with gravity assistance, mechanical cutters, fluid jets, scrapers and wheels. There is also provided a method of using this equipment in mining, road resurfacing and other earth removing or working activities.

A milling machine can include a frame; at least two tracks coupled to the frame for propelling the milling machine; first and second hydraulic cylinders configured to steer each of the at least two tracks, respectively; an adjustable hydraulic tie rod extending between the at least two tracks; first and second steering collars coupled to the each of the tracks to move the tracks, wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the first steering collar and the second hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the second steering collar, and wherein the adjustable hydraulic tie rod is coupled to both of the steering collars; one or more sensors to determine the positions of the at least two tracks; and a hydraulic steering control system coupled to the first and second hydraulic cylinders and the adjustable hydraulic tie rod and configured to vary a steering mode of the at least two tracks between a parallel steering mode and an Ackerman steering mode, wherein if one of the one or more sensors fails, the hydraulic steering control system defaults to move the at least two tracks into the Ackerman steering mode.

A milling machine can include a frame; at least two tracks coupled to the frame for propelling the milling machine; first and second hydraulic cylinders configured to steer each of the at least two tracks, respectively; an adjustable hydraulic tie rod extending between the at least two tracks; first and second steering collars coupled to the each of the tracks to move the tracks, wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the first steering collar and the second hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the second steering collar, and wherein the adjustable hydraulic tie rod is coupled to both of the steering collars; one or more sensors to determine the positions of the at least two tracks; and a hydraulic steering control system coupled to the first and second hydraulic cylinders and the adjustable hydraulic tie rod and configured to vary a steering mode of the at least two tracks between a parallel steering mode and an Ackerman steering mode, wherein if one of the one or more sensors fails, the hydraulic steering control system defaults to move the at least two tracks into the Ackerman steering mode.

A mobile work machine includes a sensor configured to generate a sensor signal indicative of operation of the mobile work machine, a machine performance detection system configured to receive the sensor signal, generate a topological representation of the sensor signal, and determine a machine performance characteristic based on the topological representation relative to a reference model, and a control system configured to generate a control signal to control the mobile work machine based on the machine performance characteristic.