Joel Honeyman, Bobcat’s vice chairman for world innovation, talks candidly concerning the groundbreaking new know-how the OEM is engaged on and explains why, nevertheless superior the machine is, it’s essential 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 way of the glass doorways onto the balcony we nonetheless can see, in addition to hear, the spectacular Bobcat car demonstration.
Because the skidsteers and observe loaders that type the guts of the Bobcat lineup carry out unimaginable vehicular acrobatics to the delight of the crowds, Honeyman tells us concerning the considering and modern processes behind these machines, in addition to revealing a few of 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 vice chairman 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 a superb perspective on our clients and what they’re on the lookout for – what’s essential to them,” he says.
On the core of his ethos is not only dreaming up modern ideas, however constructing them and making ready the know-how for the market he is aware of so properly. “What we do is, we make issues plausible. That’s the primary factor,” he says. “I’d put our group up in opposition to anyone’s round, only for taking an idea and making it plausible, not only a PowerPoint presentation, however bodily having the ability to current one thing as a possible resolution.”
Business 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 step with the OEM’s ethos the applied sciences that had been first showcased on that machine are usually not merely good concepts, however are actually really discovering their approach 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 essential for us. We take a look at numerous totally 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 can detect that and routinely cease.”
A second main innovation for the longer term entails autonomous know-how for landscaping: “We’re going to have an autonomous zero-turn mower in america as a restricted launch subsequent 12 months in direction of the top of 2026.”
The 62in huge business 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 could mow in stripes and patterns, which is essential 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 observe for autonomy
Whereas the brand new mower might be Bobcat’s first business, absolutely autonomous and cabless machine, it received’t be Bobcat’s first foray into autonomous programs. Already out there is the battery electrical articulating tractor, the AT450X which was unveiled at CES in 2024 and may function in guide, distant or autonomous mode, all managed through a cell utility.
Developed as a part of an ongoing collaboration with San Francisco startup, Agtonomy, the battery-powered AT450X is designed particularly for compact functions like vineyards and orchards. Utilizing AI, it could study and react to its atmosphere – distinguishing crop stems from weeds for exact spraying and detecting objects that require operation to cease.
An modern characteristic of the AT450X is its skill to function constantly by managing its personal energy wants through a battery-swapping system. When the battery runs low, it routinely returns to its dwelling base and a completely charged battery might be swapped out for the depleted one, which might in flip be placed on cost.
The AT450X goals to handle labour shortages and improve sustainability. “Farmers work lengthy hours in all kinds of situations,” says Honeyman. “Options just like the AT450X assist make farming significantly extra sustainable and environment friendly by way of 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 are actually evolving, too, and in such a approach that would additionally assist to sort out a scarcity in staff.
“We’re including some totally different options to distant programs,” says Honeyman. “We’re engaged on a gaming controller, which we’ve had numerous requests for. Younger individuals don’t need to simply sit within the machine, however they need to do building – so we wish to mix gaming with that.” This might even in the future 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 perhaps simply assist a present operator be higher, particularly new and novice operators.”
Electrification with objective
On the subject of electrification, Bobcat’s T7X tracked loader, which is accessible right now, is one thing of a market chief when it comes to going absolutely electrical and fully hydraulic-free – changing not solely the engine with a battery but in addition fluid energy with electrical motors. Its associate, 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 feel what we’ve realized on this transition to EVs is it must 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 may be?
“Sustainability is essential, but it surely has to come back with another advantages as properly, as a result of the client is making some trade-offs, like price and charging. So, you’ve bought to offer them one thing a bit of extra. That’s why T7X is so standard – clients say, ‘I can get extra performed, and I can get it performed 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 give attention to EVs, now we’re seeing extra stability with different applied sciences. However we’ve been engaged on all of it, so I be ok with it.”
Finally Honeyman takes a practical method – even whereas coping with a few of the most superior know-how out there, he doesn’t lose website of the identical easy targets that every one Bobcat clients have. “All our clients dig holes and transfer supplies,” he says. “They do it with totally different supplies and machines, however that’s primarily what they’re all doing. So, what do they need? Properly, they need to dig the outlet 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 all the time sensible, and that it stays grounded in reaching helpful duties extra effectively. He’s additionally in a position to carry clear understanding to an accelerating charge 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 obligations take him all world wide. 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 clients to get suggestions instantly,” he says. “We do street journeys. In reality, my group is in Omaha, Nebraska, this week. Over three days we’re exhibiting totally different teams of shoppers a variety of new improvements that we’re engaged on.”
These classes assist prioritise growth efforts: “Possibly we’ll present them 10 various things after which we ask them for his or her prime three, and ask what they may be prepared to pay for them. We will’t fall in love with our personal thought. It’s bought to have a objective, and clients should need it.”
Simplicity is one other important issue: “It additionally must 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 concerning the know-how, but it surely’s about that human interplay. The intersection of these two elements is critically essential.
This text first appeared within the June problem of iVT Worldwide
