During CES’ Media Days event, Doosan Bobcat, Inc., a company within the Doosan Group, demonstrated its commitment to driving equipment advancements through emerging technologies.
Scott Park, Doosan Bobcat CEO and vice chairman, expressed the company’s vision for the future of equipment, emphasizing connectivity, alternative power sources, autonomous capabilities, and more. The company showcased various commercialized products, recent concept developments, and innovations reflecting a significant shift in functionality and capabilities.
Among the notable updates was the unveiling of the industry’s first autonomous and electric articulating tractor, the Bobcat AT450X, enabled by Agtonomy. This initiative involved a partnership with Agtonomy, a Silicon Valley-based ag tech software company, to enhance agricultural productivity and performance through autonomous equipment innovations.
The AT450X, powered by batteries, combines Bobcat’s versatile articulating tractor with Agtonomy’s software and embedded-computing technology. This collaboration enables emissions-free and autonomous operations, empowering farmers to automate labor-intensive tasks. The tractor is designed for compact applications like vineyards and orchards, performing tasks such as mowing, spraying, precision weeding, and material transport autonomously or remotely.
Key features of the AT450X include mission planning via Agtonomy’s mobile application, AI-driven dynamic reactions to the environment, 24/7 operation with battery swapping capabilities, and the ability to learn and auto-stop operation if needed. Commercialization details will be announced at a later date.
Joel Honeyman, Doosan Bobcat vice president of global innovation, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovating for the worksites of tomorrow. The AT450X is seen as a solution to make farming more productive, efficient, and sustainable through digital advancements.
At CES 2024, Bobcat also introduced the RogueX2, the next evolution of its RogueX concept loader, featuring an all-electric and autonomous design. The RogueX2, designed with wheels for optimal battery run time, incorporates axial flux motors for powerful pushing capabilities. Updates on an autonomous mower and the all-electric Bobcat S7X skid-steer loader were also shared during the event.
Bobcat’s commitment to innovation spans various areas, including connectivity, electrification, and autonomous operation. The company continues to evolve its solutions through groundbreaking technologies to address the needs of tomorrow’s jobsites and customers.