Auto-Nudge: multi-pass grading

Auto-Nudge is the right tool when the design cut is deeper than your scraper can take in one pass. The app stages the cuts for you — pass 1 leaves the right amount of material for pass 2, and so on.

How it works:

• You tell the app Max Cut Per Pass (default 2″). The app reads the deepest cut on the design and figures out how many passes you need.
• A pass counter appears in the stats bar (e.g. "Pass 1 of 4").
• The pass label reads Pass X of Y, where Y is computed as ceil(deepest_cut / Max_Cut_Per_Pass). Example: a 6″ deepest cut at 2″ per pass → ceil(6 / 2) = 3 passes.
• For each pass, the target line is offset above the final design by (currentPass × maxCut). Pass 1 cuts 2″ down from existing terrain; pass 2 cuts another 2″; and so on until the last pass hits final grade.
• The profile chart shows all the pass lines. The active pass is the bold dashed orange line; inactive passes are faded.

Multi-pass preview on the profile chart. When Auto-Nudge is on, the profile chart draws an intermediate target line for each staged pass (capped at 10 visible lines), with the active pass drawn boldest and the remaining passes shown as faded reference lines. Use them to anticipate how much material each remaining pass should remove.

Switching passes:

Auto-Nudge uses manual pass advancement — you tap to advance. Look for Pass + and Pass − buttons in the sidebar.

• After completing a full pass over the route, tap Pass + to move to pass 2.
• If you need to back up to a previous pass, tap Pass −.
• The pass count is capped at the estimated maximum based on Max Cut Per Pass and the design's deepest cut.

Manual nudge and Auto-Nudge are mutually exclusive. While Auto-Nudge is on, the Nudge Up / Nudge Down buttons are replaced by Pass + / Pass − in the sidebar. Manual nudge taps have no effect on the blade target until you turn Auto-Nudge off in Settings → GRADING (or via the Auto-Nudge switch in the stats bar). The two systems are mutually exclusive by design — the sidebar literally swaps the buttons out so you can't tap them when the other system is active.

Why not auto-detect passes from GPS?

Earlier versions tried to advance passes based on which areas you had already covered. This falsely advanced when the machine sat still. Manual is reliable.

Enabling Auto-Nudge

When you implement a Slope-IQ design, the app prompts:

• Use Manual Nudge — turn Auto-Nudge off. You control nudge yourself.
• Enable Auto-Nudge — turn it on. Set Max Cut Per Pass in the dialog (default 2″, range 0.5″–12″). The dialog also shows the estimated pass count.

You can also toggle Auto-Nudge from Settings → GRADING → Auto Nudge. Adjust Max Cut Depth in the same group.

Tip: review the Est. Passes badge in the Slope-IQ design dialog before implementing. If it says "Est. Passes: 8 @ 2″/pass" and that is too many for your day, raise Max Cut Per Pass to 3″ or 4″ before tapping Implement.