Ditch Assist Lite on an excavator

Ditch Assist® Lite runs the Excavation workflow with the Reach mounted on the stick. There are no angle sensors, so the app knows where the antenna is, not where the bucket tip is.

The distance from the antenna down to the bucket tip changes every time the stick or bucket moves. The reading is only true when you put them back in the same position (pose) you calibrated in. So it's a grade check between cuts, not live grade while you dig.

Before you start

• The Reach fixed on the stick, where it won't be hit. The DIG pendulum mount fits it (GPS mount).
• Connected and activated, with RTK Fixed (Connect, Activate)
• A pose you can repeat by eye: for example, stick plumb and bucket curled to a set position
• A benchmark or known elevation to calibrate on, if you're working to a survey or design

Time: about 5 minutes to set up and calibrate, then a few seconds for each check.

Open Excavation

Tap Excavation

On the Home screen, tap the big square called Excavation, with a yellow excavator picture. It's in the middle row, on the right.

The connect window opens. If the Reach is already connected from another workflow, the app skips it: go to step 4.

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Tap Emlid Reach

It's the green button in the middle of the connect window. The app finds the Reach and opens the System Check. Every screen of it: Connect in the app.

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Tap Continue

When the bottom row of the System Check turns green and reads RTK Fixed, tap the big green Continue button at the bottom of the window.

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Tap Continue Anyway

With a real Reach connected (not the simulator), a reminder window opens: Designed for a different kit. It says: In Ditch Assist Lite the app follows the Emlid Reach antenna, not the bucket tip — there are no excavator sensors. To check grade, stop and put the stick and bucket in the same position every time: the position you used when you calibrated.

Tap Continue Anyway, the orange button at the bottom right of the window. Once you've continued, it doesn't ask again until the app is closed and opened again.

Pick Different, to the left of it, goes back to Home with no workflow open, so you can pick another.

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Tap how you'll work

A window called IQ Excavator asks How would you like to grade?, under the line Visual guidance only — no valve commands. The choices are the same as with a DIG Kit:

• New Survey, Load Survey / Design or Resume Job: work to a survey, design or saved job.
• Enter Grade Only: a fixed grade from where you start, no survey.
• Dig Level Area: a set elevation, or a set depth below where the bucket is now.
• Import Civil Design (LandXML): a design from civil software.

Tap the one you want. Each one is explained on Excavation.

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Calibrate, dig and check

1. Put the stick and bucket in your check pose

   Pick a pose you can find again by eye every time, for example the stick plumb and the bucket curled to a set position. Picture 1 in the drawing above.

2. Set the bucket tip on the benchmark

   Hold the pose and put the bucket tip (or cutting edge) on your benchmark or known point.

3. Tap BM, and calibrate

   The BM button is in the bar across the top of the grade screen, near the right-hand end. Tap it, then calibrate on the benchmark: Calibrate on the benchmark. The app now knows the antenna-to-tip distance for this pose only.

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   A start point you set by position (the start of a fixed grade, or a depth below where you are) is also taken in the pose you're in. Set it in your check pose too.

4. Dig, and ignore the reading

   While you dig, the stick and bucket move and the reading isn't valid. Don't work to it.

5. Between cuts, go back to the pose and read the cut or fill

   Stop. Put the stick and bucket back in your calibration pose with the tip on the bottom, and read the cut or fill. Dig again and repeat.

If it doesn't work

• Reading changes when you move the stick or bucket: that's normal in Lite mode. Check only from the calibration pose.
• Off by a steady amount in the pose: calibrate again in that pose, on the benchmark.
• The reminder window every time: it shows once each time the app is opened. Tap Continue Anyway.
• Need live grade while digging: that's the DIG Kit. See Excavation.

More: Fix Ditch Assist Lite problems.