Originally manual, the excavator has been more than 130 years since its invention in 2013, during which it has experienced a gradual development process from steam-driven bucket rotary excavators to electric-driven and internal combustion engine-driven rotary excavators, and fully automatic hydraulic excavators applying mechatronic and hydraulic integration technology. The first hydraulic excavator was invented by the Poclain factory in France. Due to the application of hydraulic technology, in the 40s of the 20th century, there was a hydraulic backhoe ground suspended excavator equipped with a tractor. In 1951, the first fully hydraulic backhoe excavator was introduced at the Poclain plant in France, thus opening up a new space in the field of excavator technology, and in the early and mid-50s of the 20th century, the towed full-swing hydraulic excavator and the tracked full-hydraulic excavator were developed successively. The initial trial production of the hydraulic excavator is the use of aircraft and machine tool hydraulic technology, lack of hydraulic components suitable for various working conditions of the excavator, the manufacturing quality is not stable enough, the accessories are not complete. Since the 60s of the 20th century, hydraulic excavators have entered the stage of promotion and vigorous development, and the number of excavator manufacturers and varieties in various countries has increased rapidly, and the output has soared. Between 1968 and 1970, hydraulic excavator production accounted for 83% of the total excavator production, which was close to 100% [2].
The first generation of excavators: the emergence of electric motors and internal combustion engines has made excavators have advanced and suitable electric devices, so various excavator products have been born. In 1899, the first electric excavator appeared. After the First World War, diesel engines were also used in excavators, and this type of mechanical excavator driven by a diesel engine (or electric motor) was the first generation of excavators.
The second generation of excavators: with the widespread use of hydraulic technology, the excavator has a more scientific and applicable transmission device, hydraulic transmission instead of mechanical transmission is a big leap in excavator technology. In 1950, Germany's first hydraulic excavator was born. Mechanical drive hydraulicization is the second generation of excavators.
The third generation of excavators: the wide application of electronic technology, especially computer technology, makes the excavator have an automatic control system, and also makes the excavator develop in the direction of high performance, automation and intelligence. The germination of mechatronics took place around 1965, and the introduction of mechatronics technology on mass-produced hydraulic excavators around 1985, when the main purpose was to save energy. The electrification of excavators is the hallmark of the third generation of excavators.
Excavator industry manufacturers can be roughly divided into four categories. More than 7 percent of domestic excavators are occupied by foreign brands, domestic brands are still dominated by small digging and medium digging, but the share of domestic excavators is gradually increasing, an increase of 3.6% year-on-year in 2012.
