All of us here at Yancey Bros. were eagerly watching as Caterpillar recently unveiled its first piece of semi-autonomous construction equipment, the Cat 299D3 Compact Track Loader (CTL).
Cat showed off this CTL and its ability to be operated by remote control or in semi-autonomous mode during the Cat Trial 12 machine demo event at the Tinaja Hills Proving Grounds in Arizona. This machine is ushering in a new era for the construction business.
Caterpillar has seen remarkable success producing reliable autonomous and remote-control equipment for the mining industry. The next logical step on the autonomy path was to bring similar technology to the construction industry.
What’s the plan? Cat’s goal is to produce autonomous construction equipment that is:
These goals recognized that unlike mining sites that may be operational for decades, construction projects often are completed in a year or even in a few months. It doesn’t make financial sense for construction companies and contractors to invest in complex infrastructure for the job site. Mobility and efficiency matter.
How did Cat get started? A few years ago, Caterpillar acquired Marble Robotics of San Francisco, which had expertise in small delivery robots to work in complex environments. Caterpillar is leveraging this technology with Cat Command’s expertise in autonomy and remote-control systems to develop new lighter-weight and cost-effective autonomous equipment.
Why does this matter? Technology can bring greater efficiency and more safety to the construction job site and, as a bonus, make a career in construction more appealing to the next generation.
Cat Robotics makes the 299D3 Compact Track Loader nimble and provides technology that allows the machine to read and follow a customer’s site-plan design file. The design file is delivered to a simple tablet controller that connects directly to the CLT through what’s basically a Wi-Fi hotspot. No complicated job site data network is needed.
The operator uses the tablet to switch between remote control operations for high-precision tasks, such as picking up materials, and semi-autonomous mode for less complicated maneuvers, such as transporting those materials around the job site. Once the CTL drops the materials and returns to the pickup area, the operator can take control via remote control again to reload.
In this example, the operator would be able to control up to four CTLs at once, managing the process more efficiently for the project and making the work more engaging for the operator by removing the monotonous repetitions of driving materials around the site.
This works because Cat’s D-Series CTLs like the 299D3 are already produced with control-by-wire capabilities. Options used by human operators, such as self-leveling with forks, return-to-dig and return-to-lift, have been effectively integrated with remote-control and autonomous options. The new technology creates the machine’s ability to navigate from a design map and use LiDAR, cameras and other sensors to move safely around.
To work efficiently and safely, the 299D3 Compact Track Loader’s sensor and systems have a lot of job site information to collect and process. Most importantly, the CTL needs to “see” the difference between inanimate obstacles and humans.
For inanimate obstacles, the CTL’s sensors use a process called “dynamic path planning” to quickly determine a way around obstacles.
For humans, the system technology can give more space when navigating around a person or it can just slow down or stop. It can do the same for light trucks or other moving equipment.
Jobsite protocols can also be established to train people to work around autonomous equipment, being aware of its capabilities and learning to stay further back to maximize both their own safety and not affect the CTL’s productivity by causing it to slow down or stop unnecessarily.
When it comes to technology, Caterpillar pays attention to customer and job site feedback and will incorporate it into the eventual commercial releases of autonomous construction equipment.
The end goal is to have autonomous equipment able to handle all the simple, repetitive tasks of a construction project as well as those kinds of tasks in potentially dangerous environments.
Additionally, automation can help construction companies deal with today’s labor shortages or allow equipment operators to become equipment managers, overseeing a number of machines and operations working at once.
Field trials for automated equipment will help determine what new or different skills operators will need to work in an automated jobsite. That new engagement and expertise will make construction work more appealing to a new generation of employees and make them even more valuable to their employers.
Since 1914, Yancey employees have proudly served our customers in the Construction, Roadbuilding, Mining, Aggregates, Forestry, Manufacturing, Transportation and Agricultural communities by providing them with quality products, parts and service.
Yancey’s experts strive to stay informed about all Cat’s new technology. Even if remote-control or autonomous equipment isn’t right for your needs immediately, we can keep you informed so you’re able to adapt or incorporate technology into your jobs whenever you need to.
Working side-by-side with the equipment experts at Yancey, you can find the right combination of Cat Connect technologies and services for your jobsites and build the successful, sustainable business you want.
