Machine autonomy for compactors and dozers being developed by Trimble

Trimble is working on innovative technologies that could revolutionise the construction and aggregates production sectors. Perhaps the most eye-catching of all of these is for the autonomous compactor and dozer system Trimble is in the process of developing. Scott Crozier is general manager of Trimble’s general construction division. He said that while this autonomous machine technology is not yet ready for the market, “It may not be as far away as expected.”
December 10, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

2122 Trimble is working on innovative technologies that could revolutionise the construction and aggregates production sectors.

Perhaps the most eye-catching of all of these is for the autonomous compactor and dozer system Trimble is in the process of developing.

Scott Crozier is general manager of Trimble’s general construction division. He said that while this autonomous machine technology is not yet ready for the market, “It may not be as far away as expected.”

Trimble still has a lot of development work to carry out on its autonomous machine control package and there will be other challenges too. He said, “There will be some regulations we’ll have to comply with.”

However the firm is confident that the project will deliver practical solutions and Crozier continued, “It’ll come in gradually.” He added that certain elements of the technology will be brought to market in the near future. Semi-autonomous technology could be on the market by 2020, with autonomous machines then being introduced for certain applications within five years.

The technology is being aimed at a particular range of duties. Crozier explained that these systems could be used in large greenfield construction sites such as for new airports or for use at landfill sites, where equipment would typically carry out repetitive operations. Geofencing would ensure that the machines would run in controlled areas away from personnel, optimising safety.

Connected Construction

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • A macro website launched for microsurfacing processes
    October 9, 2018
    RoadResource.org as a go-to website for surfacing information is now live When RoadResouce.org went live – quietly - in July it was the end of two years of hard work by three major US associations for pavement preservation. But there was no grand party or ceremonial pushing of the “go live” button, says Doug Hogue, vice president and general manager of VSS Macropaver. “For all of us in the industry July is a busy period that left little time to celebrate on the opening day,” says the 51-year-old chartere
    Read More
  • More satellites, more signals
    July 20, 2012
    Greater GPS accuracy suggests closer tolerances for surveying and machine control functions What happens in the future for GPS surveying and machine control could depend on satellite choice and signals. Right now there are around 30 satellites in orbit, largely built by the US, but by 2012 that could rise to 120 as Europe, China, India and Russia fully enter the market. A chequered history has faced the European's Galileo system. At long last, the finance appears to be in place and the European Commission a
    Read More
  • Alternative power sources are a key focus says Wirtgen chief sales officer Domenic Ruccolo
    November 15, 2022
    Domenic Ruccolo, CSO Wirtgen Group and Senior Vice President, Sales, Marketing, and Product Support, Global Construction Equipment, John Deere, spoke with Mike Woof
    Read More
  • Canada is the partner country for the biggest ever
    November 15, 2018
    bauma 2019 in Munich is going to be the biggest yet with the organisers gearing up to host 3,500 exhibitors and 600,000 visitors in 18 halls and 614,000m2 of show space. Two new halls have been opened up for the 2019 show and the exhibition’s partner country will be Canada, the seventh-largest market in the world for construction machinery. Canada’s construction sector growth is expected to grow by 3% per annum each year until 2020. Organiser Messe Munchen has also chosen Canada because it is “one of the w
    Read More

Highlighted Content