Autonomous Machine Control

Big money and big names are described in this article. Bedrock Robotics emerges with $80M for autonomous equipment Tech startup Bedrock Robotics plans to launch an autonomous, aftermarket platform for construction equipment by 2026. Details at Equipment World. www.equipmentworld.com

The idea of a D-10 running around with no operator onboard is scary enough, getting rid of a remote operator, and relying on "A.I" is downright frightening. "Open the pod bay doors HAL"

Computers can process a huge amount of data quickly but they can not see, hear, taste, smell, or feel like a human. They can not anticipate everything that could ever go wrong in real world conditions. What will it do when a mouse gets in and chews some wires? Will it just start running full speed ahead and run over a school bus full of kids? I am not a fan of AI or autonomous at all. Can they get it work in the lab? Yes. What kind of nightmares will it create in the field after a while?

This tech is coming faster than I ever imagined. If the right project comes along I plan on buying Cat's autonomous compactor running Bluelight (SiTech) technology. Seen it on a demo and it's impressive. Set the compactors boundary with a rover, program how many passes and the off-set then press go. When the roller is finished it will park itself and wait further instructions. If anyone or anything comes within the safety area the machine will shut down and send a message with picture to the human monitoring it. There is a project in North or South Carolina where they spend the day filling a huge building pad then one guy at night monitors a fleet of autonomous rollers through the night. Like it, hate it or be skeptical of it but it's coming whether we like or it or not. I think it is very similar to when the automobile was introduced and I am going to do whatever I can to not end up being a horse buggy maker..

CM1995 said: This tech is coming faster than I ever imagined. If the right project comes along I plan on buying Cat's autonomous compactor running Bluelight (SiTech) technology. Seen it on a demo and it's impressive. Set the compactors boundary with a rover, program how many passes and the off-set then press go. When the roller is finished it will park itself and wait further instructions. If anyone or anything comes within the safety area the machine will shut down and send a message with picture to the human monitoring it. There is a project in North or South Carolina where they spend the day filling a huge building pad then one guy at night monitors a fleet of autonomous rollers through the night. Like it, hate it or be skeptical of it but it's coming whether we like or it or not. I think it is very similar to when the automobile was introduced and I am going to do whatever I can to not end up being a horse buggy maker.. Click to expand... In my opinion a compactor on a large site is a perfect setup up for this tech. I saw one operating on a road building project and thought my dreams are finally coming true. I don't know of anything more mind numbing then spending weeks or months compacting a large fill.

AMBMike said: In my opinion a compactor on a large site is a perfect setup up for this tech. I saw one operating on a road building project and thought my dreams are finally coming true. I don't know of anything more mind numbing then spending weeks or months compacting a large fill. Click to expand... No doubt - it's a perfect fit. Haul trucks the same. I think dozers and excavators are a little farther out but not that far. My focus for Conex this year is autonomous tech.

I can see a compactor . . . but an excavator? I think full self driving vehicles will be very commonplace before that an automated excavator is less costly than a human operated one. Maybe one of you pros can tell me what the machine cost per hour is compared to the operator cost?

A familiar name is going autonomous. Caterpillar Previews 5 Intelligent Construction Machines at CES Cat announced new intelligent excavators, dozers, loaders, haul trucks and compactors powered by partners like Nvidia and advances in computing and AI www.equipmentworld.com

DDoug said: The idea of a D-10 running around with no operator onboard is scary enough, getting rid of a remote operator, and relying on "A.I" is downright frightening. Click to expand... D10?? Currently, there are 65k pound farm tractors pulling a 45' wide 20k pound implement at 10 mph with nobody at the controls, it's just relying on GPS and a field map with boundaries.....

Shimmy1 said: D10?? Currently, there are 65k pound farm tractors pulling a 45' wide 20k pound implement at 10 mph with nobody at the controls, it's just relying on GPS and a field map with boundaries..... Click to expand... North Dakota I have no care about.......

I watched video a few years ago of a Komatsu site that was automated. There were drones involved. But I think there was an excavator. I know Jammer materials had a quarry that would crush at night. The primary was shut down so the secondary had a stockpile over the feed. Stacker belts so no need to take away. Photo sensors over the cones so if the you had a backup, or suddenly went low the system would shut down. It was designed to page someone, but construction safety wanted at least 1 person on site

If I could set up an autonomous control on our little 5 ton feed excavator then I wouldn't have to have my wife sit in the machine & feed the shaker! In this scenario she could join me in the RV and we both could take it easy! At the end of the day we just clean the mats & collect the gold LOL! Sorry couldn't resist...

BC Placer gold said: If I could set up an autonomous control on our little 5 ton feed excavator then I wouldn't have to have my wife sit in the machine & feed the shaker! In this scenario she could join me in the RV and we both could take it easy! At the end of the day we just clean the mats & collect the gold LOL! Sorry couldn't resist... Click to expand... ....and someone else will come in 30 minutes before you climb out of the RV and clean the mats for themselves......

Another article on the alliances being made to remove operators from machines. Caterpillar, Nvidia Expand AI Partnership Caterpillar and Nvidia deepen their partnership to bring AI-powered machines, autonomy and digital manufacturing to construction and mining. www.equipmentworld.com

John C. said: Another article on the alliances being made to remove operators from machines. Caterpillar, Nvidia Expand AI Partnership Caterpillar and Nvidia deepen their partnership to bring AI-powered machines, autonomy and digital manufacturing to construction and mining. www.equipmentworld.com Click to expand... I have both of those stocks in my IRA.

John C. said: Another article on the alliances being made to remove operators from machines. Caterpillar, Nvidia Expand AI Partnership Caterpillar and Nvidia deepen their partnership to bring AI-powered machines, autonomy and digital manufacturing to construction and mining. www.equipmentworld.com Click to expand... I think a lot of it is that there are not a lot of young people to take over

I talked about that gps grader i had to fine grade behind. It was a waste of grade stakes. Pull the string, right on grade, next one, right on, next same. Let's do diagonal, same thing. But then all of a sudden cut 1 inch cut 3, 4. Gps wasn't working right that day. So clearly he couldn't grade without it. Job security for me for now.

cuttin edge said: I talked about that gps grader i had to fine grade behind. It was a waste of grade stakes. Pull the string, right on grade, next one, right on, next same. Let's do diagonal, same thing. But then all of a sudden cut 1 inch cut 3, 4. Gps wasn't working right that day. So clearly he couldn't grade without it. Job security for me for now. Click to expand... The GPS/UTS guided machine control is only as good as the 3D model. When there's a bust in the model, or when you get under heavy tree cover, or the base station goes down is when you learn who can actually operate. We have a young guy that just has it in him naturally. He's not very experienced but can carry grade by eye/feel on almost any machine.

Many Haul Trucks in the iron ore in Western Australia are autonomous. Rio are right into it as well as BHP. There are hundreds of 793's working without drivers. https://im-mining.com/2024/08/12/ko...rald-delivery-of-300th-autonomous-haul-truck/ The ship loaders at the iron ore ports are remotely operated in Perth,2000 km away from the machine. A lot of the 2.5 km long iron ore trains carrying ore from the mines to the ports don't have anyone aboard.

Mr. Wrench said: Computers can process a huge amount of data quickly but they can not see, hear, taste, smell, or feel like a human. They can not anticipate everything that could ever go wrong in real world conditions. What will it do when a mouse gets in and chews some wires? Will it just start running full speed ahead and run over a school bus full of kids? I am not a fan of AI or autonomous at all. Can they get it work in the lab? Yes. What kind of nightmares will it create in the field after a while? Click to expand... That's the thing, a good operator will save money. An operator in tune with the machine can hear and see a problem before the computer detects a problem. I really don't see how a computer system can detect an issue like a rod knock as effectively as a good operator. Unless they put vibration sensors all over everything that engine will just hammer away until it spits a rod. How about a blown hose or major oil leak? Is it going to have some way to detect the piping on the boom is spewing 20 gallons a minute out all over the jobsite? Or is it just going to let it spew oil out until the pumps lock up? What about something burning? An operator will usually smell that before an idiot light on the display comes on. At least have half a chance at saving the machine. From what it says in the article it sounds like they install this kit in a matter of hours, so I have doubts they've thought this through.