Caterpillar has been investing in autonomous development for more than 30 years now, starting research into automation as early as 1968, and beginning to form the building blocks for construction vehicle automation in the mid-90s.

Today, Caterpillar’s autonomous haulage system has fleets at 17 locations around the world, and CAT reached the impressive milestone of 500+ autonomous construction vehicles in operation, globally, in 2022.

A pioneer in driverless tech and mining technology today as much as they were over 3 decades ago, are Caterpillar’s autonomous vehicles where the future of the construction industry lies?

Examples of Caterpillar’s autonomous technology

Cat® MineStar™ Command

The Cat® MineStar™ Command is suitable for applications in drilling, dozing hauling and underground mining. Key features include automated drilling, the remote operation of dozers and the remote use of load-haul-dump machines. The aim of this type of technology from industry giant Cat is to automate the mining process and ultimately operate a fully autonomous fleet of driverless trucks that can work around the clock.

789D Autonomous Water Truck

Developed in 2021, Caterpillar’s autonomous water truck is another step towards the ‘autonomous mine of the future’. Offering safety and productivity benefits and using MineStar technology, the water truck reduces dust on-site without over-watering which can cause slippery, unsafe conditions for operators.

R1700 XE Battery Electric Underground Loader

The R1700 XE electric underground loader is a zero-emission loader that uses Caterpillar’s ‘Autodig’ technology for optimised loading and increased efficiency. This loader uses three controls known as Auto Pilot, Auto Dump and Auto Dig, all of which enable streamlined, remote operation of the machinery.

CAT MineStar Solutions

CAT MineStar Solutions is another automation-driven piece of technology that can enhance fleet productivity and make underground hard rock mining safer. The ‘Detect’ feature utilises high precision tracking which helps prevent site accidents, such as collisions, by alerting operators to hazards.

CAT MineStar Edge

CAT MineStar Edge is described by Caterpillar as an ‘operational ecosystem’. It analyses the whole mining operation to enhance productivity and improve efficiency and equipment availability. MineStar Edge provides access to real time data with up to 98% accuracy, reporting on essential information such as location tracking, fuel levels and payload. It’s another step towards automating the mining and construction industry.

What issues could autonomous construction vehicles solve?

There are a number of concerns that the construction and mining industries always have to keep at the forefront of technology developments. Autonomous construction vehicles could actually solve some of these common issues, including safety concerns, productivity targets and operational efficiency.

• Safety concerns: Autonomous construction machinery makes drilling and dozing much safer, reducing operator exposure to dust, noise and vibration. Theoretically, operations can continue 24/7 with autonomous machinery.
• Productivity targets: Approximately 20-30% more material is moved per shift with autonomous dozing. Unmanned dozers can also increase working time and decrease idling, leading to greater productivity.
• Desire for efficiency: According to CAT, autonomous drilling offers a 20% reduction in cost per meter, compared with non-autonomous drilling. Also, 1 operator can be used for multiple machines, further improving operational efficiency.

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