Joel Honeyman, Bobcat’s vp for world innovation, talks candidly in regards to the groundbreaking new know-how the OEM is engaged on and explains why, nonetheless superior the machine is, it’s vital by no means to lose sight of its main features – digging holes and transferring issues round
We meet Joel Honeyman, Bobcat’s world director of innovation, on the busy and noisy Bobcat stand at Bauma 2025. After introductions, we retreat to the relative quiet of the first-floor hospitality suite for our chat – though by the glass doorways onto the balcony we nonetheless can see, in addition to hear, the spectacular Bobcat car demonstration.
Because the skidsteers and monitor loaders that kind the guts of the Bobcat lineup carry out unbelievable vehicular acrobatics to the delight of the crowds, Honeyman tells us in regards to the considering and revolutionary processes behind these machines, in addition to revealing among the OEM’s plans for the longer term.
With 28 years of expertise at Bobcat, Honeyman is aware of the OEM in addition to anybody. He has been vp for world innovation for over 9 years, however he began his profession within the firm’s coaching group in 1997, earlier than transferring into gross sales. “I really feel like I’ve an excellent perspective on our prospects and what they’re searching for – what’s vital to them,” he says.
On the core of his ethos is not only dreaming up revolutionary ideas, however constructing them and making ready the know-how for the market he is aware of so nicely. “What we do is, we make issues plausible. That’s the primary factor,” he says. “I’d put our crew up in opposition to anyone’s round, only for taking an idea and making it plausible, not only a PowerPoint presentation, however bodily with the ability to current one thing as a possible resolution.”
Industrial improvements
One eye-catching idea, and former iVT cowl star, is Bobcat’s cabless Rogue X, which was first unveiled at ConExpo in 2023. In line with the OEM’s ethos the applied sciences that have been first showcased on that machine are usually not merely good concepts, however at the moment are truly discovering their method into manufacturing automobiles.
“That car confirmed an idea we name Collision-Warning and Avoidance. That’s the identical know-how that we’re now commercializing,” says Honeyman. “These idea machines are actually vital for us. We take a look at numerous completely different applied sciences. Now we’re going again and saying, ‘Okay, what are the items that we will apply to our present merchandise?’ The system signifies that if a machine is backing up and it senses an object, it should detect that and robotically cease.”
A second main innovation for the longer term includes autonomous know-how for landscaping: “We’re going to have an autonomous zero-turn mower in the US as a restricted launch subsequent 12 months in the direction of the tip of 2026.”
The 62in broad industrial mower will differ from residential robotic mowers acquainted in Europe. “Europe has numerous Roomba-style, random mowers,” Honeyman says. “This one, although, you possibly can set a sample that isn’t random. This implies it will possibly mow in stripes and patterns, which is vital within the US. It made sense for that platform to be first in our lineup with full autonomy, as a result of it’s a single utility. Mowers are already going that route.”
On monitor for autonomy
Whereas the brand new mower will probably be Bobcat’s first industrial, totally autonomous and cabless machine, it received’t be Bobcat’s first foray into autonomous programs. Already accessible is the battery electrical articulating tractor, the AT450X which was unveiled at CES in 2024 and might function in guide, distant or autonomous mode, all managed through a cellular utility.
Developed as a part of an ongoing collaboration with San Francisco startup, Agtonomy, the battery-powered AT450X is designed particularly for compact purposes like vineyards and orchards. Utilizing AI, it will possibly find out about and react to its setting – distinguishing crop stems from weeds for exact spraying and detecting objects that require operation to cease.
An revolutionary characteristic of the AT450X is its skill to function repeatedly by managing its personal energy wants through a battery-swapping system. When the battery runs low, it robotically returns to its residence base and a totally charged battery may be swapped out for the depleted one, which may in flip be placed on cost.
The AT450X goals to deal with labour shortages and improve sustainability. “Farmers work lengthy hours in all kinds of circumstances,” says Honeyman. “Options just like the AT450X assist make farming significantly extra sustainable and environment friendly by digital developments.”
The collaboration with Agtonomy, which guarantees to yield additional improvements sooner or later, is a pure extension of distant programs that Bobcat has been providing for its machines since 2019. These at the moment are evolving, too, and in such a method that might additionally assist to deal with a scarcity in employees.
“We’re including some completely different options to distant programs,” says Honeyman. “We’re engaged on a gaming controller, which we’ve had numerous requests for. Younger folks don’t need to simply sit within the machine, however they need to do building – so we need to mix gaming with that.” This might even at some point result in one operator controlling a number of machines concurrently in a swarm.
“Our thesis on autonomy doesn’t essentially take away the operator,” says Honeyman. “There are numerous issues that act like autonomy that may possibly simply assist a present operator be higher, particularly new and novice operators.”
Electrification with objective
In terms of electrification, Bobcat’s T7X tracked loader, which is accessible at this time, is one thing of a market chief by way of going totally electrical and utterly hydraulic-free – changing not solely the engine with a battery but in addition fluid energy with electrical motors. Its accomplice, the wheeled S7X skidsteer is now being ready for full manufacturing.
However, as with all Bobcat machines, Honeyman is eager to level out that this isn’t simply know-how for know-how’s sake. “Frankly talking, I believe what we’ve realized on this transition to EVs is it needs to be extra than simply saying it’s sustainable,” says Honeyman. “What are the opposite advantages? Can I get extra energy? Can I get extra precision, extra torque, no matter that is perhaps?
“Sustainability is vital, nevertheless it has to come back with another advantages as nicely, as a result of the shopper is making some trade-offs, like price and charging. So, you’ve received to offer them one thing slightly extra. That’s why T7X is so widespread – prospects say, ‘I can get extra completed, and I can get it completed far more comfortably, with out noise.’”
Trying forward Honeyman sees the three megatrends of electrification, connectivity and automation converging: “Whereas three or 4 years in the past, there was an enormous deal with EVs, now we’re seeing extra steadiness with different applied sciences. However we’ve been engaged on all of it, so I be ok with it.”
In the end Honeyman takes a practical method – even whereas coping with among the most superior know-how accessible, he doesn’t lose website of the identical easy objectives that each one Bobcat prospects have. “All our prospects dig holes and transfer supplies,” he says. “They do it with completely different supplies and machines, however that’s primarily what they’re all doing. So, what do they need? Nicely, they need to dig the opening quicker and extra precisely. Or they need to transfer issues safely, and extra comfortably.”
Damaged down like this Honeyman is in a position to make sure that Bobcat’s innovation is at all times sensible, and that it stays grounded in reaching helpful duties extra effectively. He’s additionally in a position to deliver clear understanding to an accelerating fee of change. “It’s not that onerous,” he smiles.
The innovation course of
Joel Honeyman is predicated at Bobcat HQ in North Dakota however his world tasks take him all around the globe. In notably Honeyman locations buyer suggestions on the coronary heart of the innovation course of, which entails many website visits.
“We take out ideas in a short time to our prospects to get suggestions straight away,” he says. “We do street journeys. In truth, my crew is in Omaha, Nebraska, this week. Over three days we’re exhibiting completely different teams of shoppers various new improvements that we’re engaged on.”
These classes assist prioritise growth efforts: “Perhaps we are going to present them 10 various things after which we ask them for his or her prime three, and ask what they is perhaps keen to pay for them. We will’t fall in love with our personal concept. It’s received to have a objective, and prospects need to need it.”
Simplicity is one other essential issue: “It additionally needs to be easy for the operator, as a result of if it’s not, they only received’t use it. It doesn’t matter how nice the know-how is. Innovation and know-how is not only in regards to the know-how, nevertheless it’s about that human interplay. The intersection of these two elements is critically vital.
This text first appeared within the June situation of iVT Worldwide
