Tech Trends for Dozers

Sept. 13, 2018
Several crawler dozer experts weighed in recently when we asked them to look into the crystal ball regarding future technology in their products.

Several crawler dozer experts weighed in recently when we asked them to look into the crystal ball regarding future technology in their products.

Naturally, the latest “smart dozers” and allied technology were part of their answers.

“We’re seeing a greater use of machine control,” says Komatsu dozer product manager Chuck Murawski. He says the company’s machine control system, found on the D65PXi-18 and D65EXi-18, “enable an operator with just a few days of training to achieve the same grading accuracy of an operator that has many years of manual grading experience.”

This is especially important with today’s chronic operator shortages. Skilled dozer helmsmen have become much harder to find.

“Technology will continue to be a trend, with on-machine, grade control, and telematics improvements,” says Caterpillar dozer product application specialist Sam Meeker. “You can expect more features in all these segments, driving better efficiency. Dozer efficiency continues to improve through the introduction of new powertrain technology and more stable machines able to operate at higher speeds.”

In the last few years, Komatsu, Caterpillar, and John Deere have all introduced specific technology to make dozer operation easier, faster, and more efficient.

Sensors and chips live invisibly near where masts and wires once protruded.

Emmanuel Ficot, marketing communications manager for Dressta Global, sums up the technologies’ foundation and predicts more autonomous capabilities.

“It’s computerization—many functions on the dozer can be controlled and managed by computer system—that is observed already now and will be expanded more and more, including remote operating for special, extra dangerous applications such as high-temperature or high-radiation situations, [perhaps] cleaning the area after a nuclear power plant breakdown,” Ficot says.

We’ve seen great strides in crawlers during a relatively short time, but let’s hope we never see that last application.